Arroyo allies killed

COTABATO – Gunmen shot dead a political ally of President Gloria Arroyo as well as her husband and driver in an ambush on Thursday in the troubled southern Philippines, police said.

Bai Omalhair-Salendab, 45, was shot twice in the head and died instantly. Her husband Mastur and driver Pakat died en route to hospital.The gunmen struck after the three had stopped for petrol near the town of Shariff Aguak on Mindanao island.Salendab, who belongs to a family which supports Arroyo and is a member of her political party, was running for mayor in the town of Paglat.Police said the killing may have been carried out by her rivals.Political killings are common in the run-up to elections in the Philippines which will next vote in mid-term congressional elections in May, when Paglat will also choose its mayor.In December, house of representatives member Luis Bersamin, also an Arroyo ally, was shot and killed outside a church in Manila.A cousin of his, James Bersamin, was killed a month earlier.Police said that motive could be related to political feuding in Bersamin’s home province of Abra in the north, where local officials are known to employ private armies.Nampa-AFPHer husband Mastur and driver Pakat died en route to hospital.The gunmen struck after the three had stopped for petrol near the town of Shariff Aguak on Mindanao island.Salendab, who belongs to a family which supports Arroyo and is a member of her political party, was running for mayor in the town of Paglat.Police said the killing may have been carried out by her rivals.Political killings are common in the run-up to elections in the Philippines which will next vote in mid-term congressional elections in May, when Paglat will also choose its mayor.In December, house of representatives member Luis Bersamin, also an Arroyo ally, was shot and killed outside a church in Manila.A cousin of his, James Bersamin, was killed a month earlier.Police said that motive could be related to political feuding in Bersamin’s home province of Abra in the north, where local officials are known to employ private armies.Nampa-AFP