ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Lanao del Sur Provincial Police on Wednesday reported that a barangay chairperson candidate in Barangay Sigayan, Kapatagan town in Lanao del Sur was killed while his wife and son were injured after armed men ambushed them.

Lanao del Sur Provincial Police director Col. Robert S. Daculan identified the fatality as Kamar Bilao Bansil, who is running for barangay chairperson in Barangay Sigayan in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

Meantime, the fatality's wife — identified as Jasmin and his son Manmo — both sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies. They were immediately rushed to a hospital by policemen and emergency responders from the Kapatagan local government unit.

Daculan also identified the leader of the armed group as Pabil Pagrangan, the husband of Sigayan's incumbent village chair.

Initial reports disclosed that Bansil was driving his multi-cab vehicle with his wife and son on board when they were fired upon by the group of Pagrangan who positioned themselves along the road of Sigayan.

Bansil was supposed to contest the re-election bid of Pagrangan's wife, the incumbent barangay chair of Sigayan.

Daculan said policemen are now conducting a hot pursuit operation against Pagrangan who fled with his cohorts to the different directions after the incident.