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Philippine Mayor Survives RPG Ambush, Suspects Killed

Mayor Akmad Ampatuan survived a rocket-propelled grenade attack on his armored vehicle; three assailants were killed in a police-military shootout, police said.

  • On Sunday, January 25, 2026, Mayor Akmad Ampatuan survived a daytime ambush when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his Armored Toyota Land Cruiser in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, with CCTV footage capturing assailants firing from a minivan.
  • Gen. Randulf Tua'o and Philippine National Police investigators said they are examining whether political disputes, hired killers, or revenge motivated the attack and identified Budtong 'Rap-Rap' Alim Pendatun with outstanding warrants.
  • A joint police and Philippine Army 90th Infantry Battalion hot pursuit cornered suspects in Barangay Meta, killing three attackers and recovering a B40 RPG launcher and high-powered rifles.
  • Ampatuan was unharmed while two escorts, Private 1st Class Manuel Arcega Dondiego and Lakman Eso, received abdominal wounds and were treated at Bangsamoro Regional Hospital, and officials formed a Special Investigation Task Group probing police lapses with the municipal police chief facing relief.
  • This attack adds to a string of attempts against Ampatuan, who is a grandson of the late Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. and has survived at least four assassination attempts since 2014 after testifying against his clan following the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that killed 58 people.
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A video captured a grenade launcher attack against a mayor in the Philippines. Authorities are investigating the incident and possible motives.

Fox 10 PhoenixFox 10 Phoenix
+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Center

Philippine mayor survives rocket attack caught on CCTV

A Philippine mayor survived a rocket-propelled grenade attack on his vehicle in broad daylight.

Lean Right

A mayor of a conflict zone in the southern Philippines survived an assassination attempt on Sunday when an assailant shot a rocket launcher at the armoured vehicle he was travelling in, the local authorities reported this Monday, who posted a video of the event. “The mayor (Akmad Mitra) Ampatuan was unharmed, while two members of his security team were injured,” says the government of the autonomous region of Bangsamoro, in Mindanao, in the sout…

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Philippine mayor survives RPG attack

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Philstar Global broke the news in Manila, Philippines on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
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