PNP: Local politics eyed as possible motive in Shariff Aguak mayor ambush

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January 27, 2026 | 1:53pm

MANILA, Philippines — Political tensions have emerged as the possible motive being explored by the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the violent attack on Shariff Aguak Mayor Adatu Akmad Mitra Ampatuan Sr. in Maguindanao del Sur.

In a GMA News interview on Tuesday, January 27, PNP Spokesperson Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said that they are initially looking into local political tension or rivalries as the primary motive, which allegedly led to the hiring of contract killers within the locality.

“Ang una pong anggulo na tinignan po natin yung local tension po o hidwaan kaugnay ng lokal na politika na nag-resulta po sa pagha-hire ng mga gun for hire sa locality,” Tuaño said in a GMA News interview.

(The first angle that we looked at is the local tension or dispute regarding local politics that resulted in the hiring of gun-for-hire in the locality.)

Furthermore, after discussions with the Regional Director of Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Tuaño said that investigators were directed to look into the possibility of retaliation.

“Lumutang po yung possible anggulo ng retaliation na kung saan tinitignan po nila, bagamat hindi ito ay hindi kumpirmado pa po, yun pong retaliation na kung saan ka-apelyido ng mga grupo ng suspek na deceased po ngayon, ay yun po nagkaroon po ng insidente na patayan,” Tuaño said.

(The possible angle of retaliation has surfaced where they are looking—although this is not yet confirmed—at retaliation because there was a previous killing incident involving people with the same surname as the group of suspects who are now deceased.)

After the ambush on Sunday, January 25, the PNP said that four gunmen were killed in a hot pursuit operation.

Authorities reported that the suspects were armed with high-powered weapons and were operating out of a white Suzuki minivan.

When asked where the suspects got the RPG captured on the footage used against the mayor, Tuaño said that the police are still looking for its source.

According to Ampatuan, on January 26, this has been the fourth attempt on his life.

The first attempt on his life occurred in 2010 in Guindulungan town, Maguindanao del Sur, while the subsequent attempts took place in Shariff Aguak in 2014 and 2019. The latest attempt was last Sunday.

The ambush on Ampatuan also prompted the PNP to form a task force to probe the incident.

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