Person of Interest Identified in Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Shooting — Comelec.
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A person of interest has been identified in the shooting of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Datu Omar Samama, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday.
In a meeting with Philippine National Police (PNP) officials regarding security preparations for the upcoming May 2025 elections, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia confirmed that authorities have already identified a person of interest in the shooting incident.
“We already have a person of interest in this area,” Garcia said during an ambush interview when asked about updates on Samama’s shooting. However, Garcia emphasized the importance of not releasing further details to avoid disrupting the ongoing investigation and potentially jeopardizing prosecution efforts.
On February 24, Vice Mayor Samama was shot while delivering a speech at an event in Barangay Magaslong. A suspected sniper, positioned outside the crowd with an obstructed view, targeted Samama and inflicted a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Despite the severity of the attack, the PNP confirmed that Samama’s condition is now stable.
In a previous statement, Comelec Chairperson Garcia strongly condemned the attack on Samama, who is seeking reelection in the May 2025 elections. He expressed concern over the violence that has marred the campaign period, stating, “We are deeply saddened by this act, and we see it as an open challenge to us and other law enforcement authorities. Violence has no place in a civilized society.”
The PNP has noted that an armed group could be behind the attack, though further investigation is ongoing. Given the sniper’s positioning and the difficulty of targeting the Vice Mayor in such a crowd, authorities suspect that the gunman was strategically positioned outside the event for a clear line of fire.
This attack on a public official, who is a former Comelec employee, has raised concerns about security in the lead-up to the 2025 elections. Authorities are committed to ensuring that justice is served while securing the safety of all election candidates and voters.
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