Mayor on Duterte drug list slain in ambush

MANILA, Philippines — A mayor who was included in Malacañang’s list of local officials involved in the illegal drug trade was shot dead in front of a hotel in Malate, Manila on Monday night.

The Manila Police District (MPD) is not ruling out politics as a motive in the killing of Mayor Abdul Wahab Sabal of Talitay, Maguindanao.

Sabal, 45, his wife Mohana and police bodyguard Cpl. Alwal Guimad had just alighted from his Toyota Fortuner in front of the Mannra Hotel at the corner of Quirino and Leveriza streets in Malate and were checking in at around 10 p.m. when the mayor was shot.

Closed-circuit television footage from the hotel showed people trying to seek cover as shots were fired and Sabal suddenly falling onto the hotel glass door as he desperately tried to enter the establishment.

MPD homicide chief Capt. Henry Navarro said they recovered a spent 5.56mm shell across the street, which means the gunman could have used a rifle with a scope.

Navarro said the victim suffered gunshot wounds in the neck and chest.

He said Sabal had come from a meeting of local executives at the Okada Manila Hotel when the incident happened.

President Duterte had included Sabal in his narco list and he was charged before the Department of Justice in September 2016.

Duterte again named Sabal, a former police officer, in his list in March 2019 while he was a vice mayor and his brother Muntasir was then mayor.

He was arrested by elements of the Philippine National Police anti-illegal drugs group while walking out of the Awang Airport in the province of Datu Odin Sinsuat in August 2019. The victim, who was accompanied by his older brother, surrendered to the local police.

Muntasir, on the other hand, was also arrested during a raid on his house where authorities recovered dozens of firearms, including mortars, caliber .50 machine guns and grenade launchers, but he managed to go free and was even elected vice mayor.

Intelligence reports said Muntasir is now in hiding.

Meanwhile, a lawyer of the slain politician denied that Sabal was involved in illegal drugs.