Cotabato City, Philippines - A Muslim politician, her husband and driver were killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen in the southern Philippines, officials said Friday. The attack occurred Thursday when the victims stopped for petrol in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat province, 960 kilometres south of Manila. Superintendent Teng Mamalinta Tucao, provincial police commander, said the gunmen opened fire at the victims' vehicle in front of the gasoline station. The victims were identified as Bai Huda Mangalen Salendab, who planned to run for mayor in Paglat town in nearby Maguindanao province; her husband, Mastur Salendab; and driver Oscar Salendab. Tucao said the politician died on the spot while her husband and driver expired while on the way to hospital. 'We are still investigating the incident,' he said. There seems to be some confusion on this: A mayoralty hopeful in Maguindanao was shot dead in an ambush by two motorcycle-riding men in a gasoline station in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, at around 8:25 a.m. today, Thursday. Killed on the spot were Bai Huda Omalhair Mangelen-Salendab, who was supposed to run for mayor of Paglat, Maguindanao and driver Oscar Salendab. Bai Huda, who was seated at the back of the 4 x 4 pick-up vehicle, was shot twice on the head and died instantly. As of 3:30 p.m., Bai HudaÂ’s husband, Datu Masthur Salendab, was still fighting for his life at the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Tacurong City while the coupleÂ’s bodyguard, Abubakar Salendab, has been pronounced out of danger.
Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando, an army spokesman, said the killing could have been perpetrated by Bai Huda Mangalen Salendab's rivals in the mayoral race.
'This is politically motivated,' he said. 'We hope the incident will be resolved soon and there will be no more retaliation.'
Filipinos are to vote for 12 senators, more than 200 legislators and more than 17,000 local officials from provincial governors to village councillors on May 14. Philippine elections have been traditionally marred by violence and allegations of massive cheating. In the 2004 presidential and national elections, more than 140 people were killed in attacks, shootings and firefights related to the polls.