Massacre trial in Philippines: Politician’s aid slain, say police

MANILA — An aid to a Philippine governor whose political challenge to a powerful Muslim clan led to the country’s worst political massacre has been shot and killed, police said Sunday.

Police said they were investigating whether the shooting of Said Salik Saturday was related to the 2009 massacre of 57 people, after a string of killings targeting witnesses to the murders.

Salik, 65, was with his grand children when he was shot by two men riding in tandem aboard a motorcycle in the restive southern Philippines, police said.

“The victim was a consultant to Governor Toto Mangudadatu,” regional police spokesman Inspector Benjamin Mauricio said.

Mauricio said the motive remained unclear, but stressed they were investigating whether it was related to the massacre.

Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu had challenged the powerful Ampatuan clan’s control of the southern province in Maguindanao, leading to the massacre in 2009 of 57 people, including his wife, relatives and 32 journalists. — AFP