Cotabato mayor's secretary now safe - official

COTABATO CITY - Secretary to the mayor Aniceto Boy Rasalan is recovering and now stablehours after he was shot and wounded by one of two gunmen Tuesday afternoon, police and officials said.Lawyer Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, Cotabato City administrator, said Rasalan is not stable. Senior Supt. Rex Anongos, Cotabato City police chief, said police investigators are still gathering information that could identify and arrest the suspects. The motive remained unknown, we are still investigating, Anongos told DXMS Radyo Bida, adding that no one will issue statement on the incident.Guiani believed the incident was related to next year's election. She did not elaborate.Rasalan has been with Mayor Japal Guiani since he was still a city councilor.Rasalan was driving a government issued L-300 van along Sinsuat Avenue when two men riding tandem on motorbike came beside him and opened fire.Anongos said Rasalan was shit in his face, neck and shoulder.The gunmen recovered empty shells for cal. 45 pistol in the crime scene.Sayadi said many city officials have been receiving death threats from still unidentified group.She added the threats will not hamper city officials from performing their duties to improve the city.Sayadi said the incident will not deter the city government's efforts to improve the local economy and invite more investors.