Mayor targeted in daytime RPG attack but survives

An RPG was fired at Mayor Akmad Ampatuan's SUV in Shariff Aguak; police say the vehicle escaped and four suspected assailants were later killed in a police pursuit and shootout.

An early-morning incident in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, was reported when a rocket‑propelled grenade was fired at the SUV of Mayor Akmad Ampatuan as it pulled into a petrol station. The vehicle was reported to have been able to leave the scene. Two members of the mayor's security team were reported injured. Police said they later pursued suspects and that four men were killed in a subsequent highway shootout. What officials reported: - Police said the attack occurred shortly after 6 a.m. at a petrol station in Shariff Aguak. - Authorities reported that a rocket‑propelled grenade was fired at the mayor's bulletproof SUV and that the vehicle drove away from the scene. - Two security personnel were reported injured; police said they pursued suspects and that four men were killed in a shootout on the national highway. - The Philippine National Police said investigators are looking into local political tensions and whether the suspects were hired gunmen. Summary: The incident was reported amid longstanding political tensions in the southern Philippines and comes ahead of regional parliamentary elections. Police said investigations into motive and the identities of the suspects are ongoing. Undetermined at this time.