The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said that an armed group may be involved in the shooting of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur re-electionist Vice Mayor Datu Omar Samama.
PNP Public Information Office acting chief Colonel Randulf Tuaño said the case had already been discussed with PNP Bangsamoro Regional Office Director Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz.
“Right now, what they are looking at are the armed groups. This is according to [Regional Director] Macapaz. He says that our suspect right now is an armed group,” Tuaño said in a press briefing.
Authorities are still conducting validation if the motive for the attack was political. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it is convinced that the incident was election-related.
“This is election related. No ifs and buts. Whoever the perpetrators were, are sending a strong message that the only way to catch attention is by committing these despicable acts,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday.
According to Tuaño, the shooter of the vice mayor was outside the crowd and had an obstructed view, leading policemen to suspect that the gunman was a sniper.
“This is outside the crowd area, meaning the area is covered and it is possible that a sniper shot. That’s why he says that since the area is covered, there is no clear shot of the suspect,” he said.
Samama was shot and wounded by a suspected sniper, while he was giving a speech at a program in Barangay Magaslong.
According to PNP, the vice mayor is now stable and recuperating in a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound on his abdomen.