Ampatuan clan member hurt in Maguindanao ambush

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A former Maguindanao mayor, a member of the Ampatuan clan, was hurt along with two others in an ambush in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao on Wednesday afternoon, December 10.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, said that the 3-vehicle convoy of former Datu Salibo mayor Akmad Ampatuan was on its way back home from Cotabato City when armed men fired on them at the vicinity of Barangay Macasampen at around 2:40 pm. 

“Ampatuan was hurt in his arm and was brought along with the other injured to the hospital,” Hermoso said. 

Hermoso said the incident is most probably connected with local politics.  He also said that security forces are in pursuit of the attackers.

Akmad was among the 198 suspects charged with murder in the Maguindanao massacre case, the worst election-related violence in Philippine history. The Department of Justice dropped the charges against him in April 2010, after he presented an alibi.

Akmad is the father of Shariff Aguak officer-in-charge Marop Ampatuan.

On November 23, 2009, 58 individuals, including 32 journalists, were killed – allegedly  upon orders of then Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr – to stop the wife of his political rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, from filing his certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. – Rappler.com