DAVAO CITY (April 13) — Datu Baba Omar, a candidate for board member in the first district of Maguindanao del Sur, survived an ambush around 3:00 p.m. today while traveling home from a proclamation rally.
Omar, who previously served as Vice Mayor of South Upi, recounted that he and his convoy were returning from Dulawan, Datu Piang, when they noticed a silver minivan parked along the national highway in Talayan town. As they approached, three individuals armed with long firearms opened fire on their vehicle.
“We were immediately shot at on the side of the road. We were unarmed and couldn’t do anything,” Omar said. He added that the assailants used armalites in the attack.
Omar suspects the attack was politically motivated, noting that he has no known personal enemies. He mentioned receiving reports about a silver minivan trailing him in recent days but couldn’t recall the license plate.
Pandag Mayor Odjie Balaman shared a photo on social media confirming Omar’s safety. Omar’s driver, Abel Buisan, sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital.
Authorities are investigating the incident. This event underscores the heightened tensions and potential dangers faced by political candidates in the region.
