COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Unidentified men shot and seriously wounded a school principal in an early morning attack in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, on Thursday.

Police investigators and relatives of Anthony Ambel, a resident of Barangay (village) Buayan, said they believed the attack was election-related.

Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac, Maguindanao police director, said the 49-year- old Ambel, principal of Dado Elementary School, was sitting in his house’s balcony when two men barged in at 5:30 a.m. and shot him.

The victim sustained five gunshot wounds and was in critical condition, said Fr. Eduardo Vasquez, parish priest of Datu Piang. It was Vazquez who rushed the victim to a hospital.

Datu Ali Ambel, the victim’s son, said he believed the attack was related to the recently concluded village and youth council elections.

“During the election and counting, my father had several heated arguments with different people, candidates and voters,” he said.

Pintac said the police were also considering that angle.