Maguindanao vice mayor survives kill attempt, body guard dies

ESPERANZA, Sultan Kudarat - A town vice mayor in Maguindanao survived a strafing but his body guard was not as lucky, police said today.Chief InspectorBryan Bernardino, Esperanza town police chief, said Vice Mayor Samsodin Ampatuan Sangki, vice mayor of Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao,sustained gunshot injuries when unidentified gunmen strafed the house of Melchor dela Cruz, village chair of Barangay Kangkong, Esperanza town who was also injured.Bernardino identified the lonefatality asHarold Sayed Kalon, an electrician and Sangki's bodyguard. He was declared dead on arrival at a hospital.Investigation showed that three armed men emerged from the back ofthe village chair's home and strafed using automatic rifles at 7 p.m. Saturday.Responding police officers recovered seven empty magazine for cal. 45 pistol, two cartridge for cal. 30 Garand rifle and two rounds of empty shell for Garand rifle.Bernardino said motive and identities of the perpetrators remained unknown as of posting.