Pagadian City councilor survives ambush

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - A city councilor survived an assassination attempt while his driver was injured, early Wednesday in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, police said Thursday.

Superintendent Julius Muñez, Pagadian City police chief, said Rio Olimpio Lingating, 47, representative of the Subanen tribe to the local legislative council of Pagadian City, escaped the ambush unhurt. His injured driver was identified as Trifil Jay Macarial, 22.

Muñez said Lingating and his driver where on board a pick-up truck when ambushed by an unidentified gunman in sitio Purok Curvada, Barangay Dao. The incident happened at around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Lingating was bound for Ozamis City airport, where he was to take a flight to Davao City to attend a conference of the indigenous tribes.

Police said that the assailant fired at Lingating's vehicle what it was traversing the winding stretch of the highway of Barangay Dao. The shooter missed the councilor.

Macarial was injured by the shards of the vehicle's windshield.

Police said that the attack could be related to politics, saying that the councilor's brother was gunned down early this year.

Lingating and his brother are staunch supporters of a known political figure in Pagadian City.