PCL condemns attack on Kabuntalan councilor, grandson

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - The provincial chapter of the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) has condemned the near fatal shooting of a member and her grandson Monday in Cotabato City.

In a statement emailed Wednesday to The Star, Anwar Kuit Emblawa, incumbent municipal councilor in Datu Abdullah Sangki, official spokesman of the PCL-Maguindanao chapter, said they want the Cotabato City police to quickly resolve the case and identify the gunman that shot and wounded Rahima Sangkad Sumagka and her grandson.

Sumagka is an incumbent member of the municipal council of Kabuntalan town in the first district of Maguindanao.

“We condemn in strongest term the attempt to kill our colleague that also left her grandson, an innocent child, injured. We are praying for the early resolution of this case,” Emblawa said.

Sumagka was to bring her grandson to a physician from a residential area in Lugay-Lugay District in Cotabato City when the gunman approached, pulled out a gun from his waist and opened fire, hitting her in the abdomen.

Sumagka’s grandson was wounded in the neck. They are now both confined in a hospital, undergoing medication.

Emblawa said they have also urged the Kabuntalan municipal police to help investigate on the incident, owing to the possibility that the attack could be related to the councilor’s work as an elected official.

The gunman that attacked the councilor and her grandson fled after the shooting.