Police officers examine a crime scene where the vehicle of Mayor Somerado Guro of Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur, was ambushed near his residence in Iponan, Cagayan de Oro on June 3. His wife was killed in the ambush. (Jigger J. Jersualem/davaotoday.com)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The mayor of a Lanao del Sur town survived an ambush that killed his wife in his residence in Barangay Iponan, Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday morning.
Someardo Guro, mayor of Lumbaca Unayan, and his wife Rohaifa, were on board their black Toyota pick-up truck that was leaving their house when it was approached by motorcycle riding gunmen.
A witness who happened to be standing near the road in Zone 2, Iponan, saw the attackers followed the mayor’s vehicle and pumped bullets into its side while on approach. The incident happened around 9:30, police said.
The mayor’s driver was able to drive the vehicle to the nearest hospital to bring the Guros for emergency treatment.
Major Aldrin Baculio, Bulua police chief, said Guro is in stable condition after sustaining gunshot wounds on his thigh and neck.
“Mayor Guro is okay. He can talk. He is at the emergency room,” he said.
But Guro’s wife, died while in the intensive care unit.
Guro was accompanied by a staff member in the vehicle who survived.
Police forensics investigation at the crime scene found 10 empty shells fired from a .45 caliber hand gun.
Major Baculio said they have yet to establish the motive of the shooting, although Guro’s relatives told investigators that the mayor has no standing “rido” or clan feud in their province in Lanao del Sur, which is a common cause of conflict. (davaotoday.com)
