COTABATO CITY ? The Peace and Order Council of Kidapawan City in North Cotabato threw its support behind Kidapawan Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco, who admitted paying protection money to an extortion gang in a bid to save his city from attacks.

In a statement issued after its special meeting on Jan. 29, the council, chaired by Gantuangco himself, declared: ?There was nothing wrong with the payoff issue with the terrorist group al-Khobar.?

Instead, the council lauded Gantuangco for his ?private efforts.?

Gantuangco had said the P100,000 he gave the al-Khobar came from his own pocket and that aside from trying to save his city from attacks, it was also meant to help identify members of the gang.

He said his effort led to the identification of a suspect in the bomb attack on KMCC Mall, in which one person was killed and several others injured.

?Police are very happy with the support of Mayor Gantuangco to prosecute the suspects and that the pay-off is necessary so that we can request the court to issue a warrant of arrest against one Nacir Abison,? said Senior Supt. Marcelo Pintac, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in North Cotabato, in a statement.

The Peace and Order Council also blamed media for what it said was ?premature broadcast? of Gantuangco?s affidavit against the suspect.

?All our efforts for several months went to nothing because of the premature broadcast made, which mentioned the name of the suspect,? Chief Insp. Leo Ajero, acting Kidapawan police chief, said.

Still, Gantuangco?s critics maintained the payoff was immoral.

Councilor Gregory Yarra, chair of the city council?s committee on good governance and accountability, said the payoff would encourage criminals.