The two companions of Shariff Aguak Vice Mayor Akmad Mitra Ampatuan died hours after they were ambushed along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion, Maguindanao.

Hadji Akmad Lumenda Ampatuan and Elham Khalid, Ampatuan’s driver, both died due to multiple gunshot wounds in various parts of their bodies, according to Major Erwin Tabora, Shariff Aguak town police chief.

The vice mayor and his companions were heading home from the town hall when gunmen onboard a motorcycle and a multicab vehicle opened fire on them along the national highway at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ampatuan is now in stable condition in an undisclosed hospital.

Police investigation showed that Ampatuan’s choice to drive the vehicle actually saved his life.

“Most of the bullets were directed toward the front seat passenger side and the seat behind the driver,” Tabora said, adding that the attackers might have thought that the local official was seated in the front or at the back of the red Innova car.

Khalid died hours after the ambush at the Maguindanao provincial hospital and was immediately buried while Hadji Akmad passed away on Christmas Day.

“We have persons of interest, in this case, we are digging deeper,” Tabora said.

Ampatuan, who survived an ambush in 2014, stood as a witness against his relatives in the infamous Maguindanao massacre case.

“He was ambushed twice and he survived twice,” Tabora said.

Ampatuan is the father of Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan. The mayor has strongly condemned the incident and has called for the speedy resolution of the case.