DAANBANTAYAN, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot said the attempt on his life last Sunday morning, May 13, did not discourage him from continuing his public service.

The first-termer local chief executive said he and his wife Maria Luisa, the town's former mayor, dreamed of transforming Daanbantayan to a city from first municipal income class.

Loot said the five armed failed to instill fear in him. He will seek a second term in midterm elections in May 2019.

"The more I am challenged, the more nga molihok ko. Ipakita nako nga sayop sila sa ilang gihimo," he said. "Naay daghang mga tawo nga nanginahanglan og tabang namo diri ug nanginahanglan nga usbon namo ang Daanbantayan kay naa miy ambisyon; naa miy taas nga panglantaw sa among lunsod."

He added: "The more nga masakitan ka, the more ka nga mosukol."

His wife, Maria Luisa, said the eldest of her grandchildren who is seven years old asked her why they were attacked.

"Nagsige og pangutana ang bata ngano kunong gipusil mi. Unsa man gyod kuno. Ngano man gyod kuno," she said. "Wa god ko katubag. Unya pagpanguli namo, mao gihapon iyang pangutana."

Loot, who was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as one of five narco generals, survived a gun attack on his family at New Maya Port in Daanbantayan on Sunday, May 13.

His two drivers and the nanny of his grandchild were wounded. (KAL/SunStar Cebu)