SALIBO, Maguindanao del Sur — Mayor Khomenie Sandigan of Salibo voluntarily surrendered to authorities Thursday on a legal matter.
Sandigan turned himself in at the Talayan Municipal Police Station at approximately 2 p.m. Police reports state the surrender was peaceful and coordinated with local officials.
Officers processed the mayor and will forward the case to the appropriate legal channels. Officials did not specify the nature of the legal matter but assured the public that due process would be followed.
As of press time, Sandigan and his legal counsel had not issued an official statement. The Philippine National Police in Talayan has urged residents to remain calm.
In a separate matter, Maguindanao Gov. Datu Ali Midtimbang told reporters the mayor's surrender follows a four-month delay in municipal worker salaries.
Midtimbang said Sandigan was the "real winner" of the last mayoral election but had gone into hiding after being implicated in a murder case in the municipality. According to the governor, Sandigan decided to "wait for the proper time and advice from his legal counsel" before surrendering.
