ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A town mayor was killed on Monday while his vice mayor, escorts and driver were wounded in an ambush in Tungawan town, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Police Superintendent William Gadayan, chief of the Provincial Public Safety Company, identified the victim as Tungawan Mayor Randy Adlawan Climaco.
Gadayan said the wounded vice mayor was Abison Abduraok, driver Charlie dela Cruz, barangay captain Ernesto Segualan, Fortunato Mangubat, Carlnan Climaco and Jembot Recalde.
He said the victims were onboard a service vehicle when they were ambushed at 3:50 p.m. at Barangay Kayamkam while on transit to Poblacion Tungawan.
The police said Climaco died on the spot while his vice mayor and wounded companions were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Gadayan said the ambush came hours after Climaco filed his candidacy to run for vice mayor in his municipality.
Gadayan said the police chief of Tungawan, Senior Inspector Ricardo Pacana, is investigating if the ambush on Climaco was election-related.
Pacana said no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.