Candidate for barangay councilor killed in Maguindanao Sur ambush
Mindanao Armed Conflict • 14:45 PM Mon Sep 18, 2023
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By:
John Felix Unson
Ambush victims Zeraphi A. Omar and Parato S. Mudzol both died on the spot. (From Kidew Paguilidan)
COTABATO CITY --- Gunmen killed a candidate for barangay councilor and a companion in an ambush in South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday afternoon.
The fatal ambush of Zeraphi A. Omar, a candidate for barangay councilor in Biarong, South Upi, and a companion, Parato S. Mudzol, 32, happened a day after motorcycle-riding men shot dead Leonardo Asud De Jesus, Jr., a third-termer barangay councilor in Datu Piang town in the same province.
Col. Roel Rullan Sermese, director of the Maguindanao del Sur provincial police, said Monday Omar and Mudzol were together in a motorcycle when they were attacked by gunmen positioned along the road in a secluded area in Barangay Lamud in South Upi, killing them both in the spot.
The slain Omar is the son of the incumbent barangay chairman of Biarong, Esmal D. Omar
Sermese said intelligence agents under the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office and personnel of the Datu Piang Municipal Police Station are still investigating Saturday’s ambush that resulted in the death of De Jesus.
De Jesus was a three-termer councilor in Barangay Poblacion in Datu Piang. His third term as barangay councilor was to end after the October 30, 2023 barangay elections.
De Jesus was on board a Toyota Innova driven by his son when they were attacked by gunmen on motorcycles in Barangay Kanguan in Datu Piang, killing him on the spot.
Sermese said witnesses had told responding investigators they are certain that De Jesus was the target of the attack since the culprits on motorcycles overtook their vehicle from the right side of the highway and opened fire, killing him on the spot.
De Jesus, a businessman, had anointed candidates for chairman and councilors in different barangays in Datu Piang, according to relatives