Candidate for Cotabato councilor hurt in ambush

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A candidate for councilor and two others were hurt in an ambush in a remote barangay in North Cotabato’s Banisilan town on Sunday.

Bobby Rajahmuda, who is running for re-election, and his companion, Sgt. Vernie Hollero of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion, were in a pickup truck on their way home from a campaign sortie when the gunmen shot them with M-16 and M-14 rifles.

Rajahmuda’s driver, Bobby Delfin, was also wounded in the attack.

Senior Inspector Ritchelle Alocilja, chief of the Banisilan police, said investigators are verifying claims that a certain Commander Tandah Tidong of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was behind the ambush.

The victims were rushed to a hospital in Midsayap, North Cotabato.