DAVAO CITY,Philippines -The vice mayor of Datu Piang, Maguindnao del Sur was shot at a public event on Monday morning, February 24. The shooting of Vice Mayor Attorney Omar Samama was caught on video camera he was speaking at an outreach event of the LGU in Barangay Magaslong. A shot was heard and he fell away from the podium. Samama was rushed to the Cotabato City Medical Center and is in stable condition, according to the statement of the Datu Piang LGU. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1PC2je7iom/ In a statement, the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) condemned the attack against Samama. MILG urged law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice. The vice mayor is seeking reelection along with his father, Datu Piang Mayor Victor Samama, under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Former House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Isagani Zarate of the Bayan Muna Partylist also condemned the attack against Samama. Zarate and Samama are members of The Fraternal Order of St. Thomas More or Tau Mu, a fraternity of the Ateneo de Davao College of Law. Samama is a past Grand Archon of the fraternity. “The circumstances and motives surrounding this attack should be thoroughly investigated, occurring as it is in the context of the election period. Such violence is utterly incompatible with the principles of free and democratic elections, which must be conducted in an environment of safety, fairness, and respect for the will of the people,” Zarate stated in a statement. He added that the attack “undermines the democratic process” as well as “instills fear” among the public. The Fraternal Order of St. Thomas More called authorities to investigate the incident.(davaotoday.com)