Marawi mayor, husband of Alma Moreno, survives ambush

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines (UPDATED) – Marawi City Mayor Sultan Fahad Pre Salic was ambushed early dawn Saturday, April 9, by still unidentified men outside the Pryce Plaza hotel here.

He was with his driver Tayrudim Bunting when they were attacked. They both survived. Salic is also married to movie actress and Parañaque councilor Alma Moreno, who is seeking a senatorial seat under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The mayor, who is running for governor of Lanao del Sur also under UNA, suffered gunshot wounds on his buttocks, right leg and back portion of his body, while the driver was slightly wounded on his right face. Both victims were immediately brought to Polymedic Plaza in Cagayan de Oro for medical attention. 

Reports from the Philippine National Police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the “victims are now in stable condition and guarded by the city SWAT personnel.”

PNP ARMM spokesman Insp. Ronald de Leon said the crime scene was “immediately processed by the SOCO personnel based in the city” and that coordination with other PNP units was being made for the “possible arrest of the suspects who fled towards west direction.” 

The suspects fled using an unidentified white van.

Violence against UNA

UNA condemned the ambush. UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan said that the ambush was undoubtedly related to politics. He called on the Comelec and the PNP to tighten security as elections near.

In a span of two weeks, Ilagan said, two incidents involving UNA candidates have already happened – the first, involving an attempt on the life of Calauan, Laguna Mayor George Berris, and this latest one. Two weeks ago, UNA youth leader Emannuel Peña also of Calauan was killed when Berris’ vehicle was attacked by still unidentified armed men.

Peña is the fourth UNA member killed since the start of the campaign, following the assassination of Sto Tomas, Batangas councilor Damasino Mabilangan Jr; former Pangutaran, Sulu mayor Ahmad Nanoh; and former Banisilan, North Cotabato mayor Floro Allado, Ilagan pointed out.

“Vice President Jejomar Binay is urging the Comelec and the Philippine National Police to speedily act on the assassination attempt against Marawi City Mayor Sultan Fahad Salic so that those responsible for the crime be brought to justice,” Ilagan said in a press statement.

“Sa ngayon, kami po ay nangangamba sa mga maaaring maging banta sa mga mahal sa buhay ni Mayor Salic. Ang mga tao pong ito ay hindi kayang tanggapin ang anumang pagkatalo kung kaya’t mas dinadaan nila ang kanilang mensahe sa bala sa halip na sa balota,” he added.

(For now, we are worried about the possible threats to the lives of the loved ones of Mayor Salic. These people cannot accept any form of defeat that’s why they are sending their messages via bullets instead of the ballot.) – with reports from Bobby Lagsa/Rappler.com