Politics, revenge eyed in Shariff Aguak mayor’s ambush

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January 28, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Probers are eyeing politics and revenge as possible motives in the attack on Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Sr. of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

“The first angle that we are considering is the local tension or political dispute, which resulted in the hiring of contract killers,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said.

He said the second motive that the special investigation task group (SITG) is looking at is retaliation for the murder of a relative.

Police have identified three of the four attackers, three of whom were killed in a shootout with law enforcement authorities.

One of the ambushers fired a rocket-propelled grenade on Ampatuan’s armored vehicle, wounding two of the mayor’s security escorts.

On Ampatuan’s claim that his security detail was withdrawn before the ambush, Tuaño said records showed there was no PNP protective security assigned to the mayor.

Tuaño ordered the SITG to coordinate with Ampatuan and get his affidavit so the PNP can conduct a threat assessment.

The attack on Sunday was the fourth attempt on the life of Ampatuan.

The mayor survived a roadside bombing in 2010 and ambuscades in 2014 and 2019.

The PNP said the chief of the municipal police would be relieved from his post while investigation is ongoing to determine if the local police force committed lapses.

Tuaño said that so far, there has been no indication of a spillover of violence in Shariff Aguak to neighboring areas. — Bella Cariaso