Slain police chief ‘angered smugglers, illegal loggers’

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Philippines — The chief of Binidayan town police, who was killed in an ambush with his driver on Monday night, had been getting threats to his life, according to his former superior, Col. Madzgani Mukaram, Lanao del Sur police provincial director, said

Amen Lucman Macalangan, who took over his post barely a month ago, must have angered smuggling and illegal logging operators whose contraband had been seized by the Binidayan police in a series of operations two weeks ago.

As police executive master sergeant, Macalangan had volunteered to take the job as police chief after its former head was relieved from office.

Personal driver

Macalangan served as personal driver of Mukaram for 10 months.

“He said, ‘Sir, just put me on the job.’ I asked, ‘Can you do it?’ He said, ‘I won’t embarrass you, I know your style,’” Mukaram recalled.

Days after he became chief of the 21-member Binidayan police, Macalangan was able to seize smuggled cigarettes and illegally cut logs in a series of operations.

Because of this, Macalangan, who spent 21 years in service, started getting death threats, Mukaram said.

Night patrol

Upon assuming the top post at Binidayan police, Macalangan activated the barangay peacekeeping action team (BPAT) in the town and made sure that its members did roving patrol at night.

“I asked him why he still had to join the patrol. And he said, ‘So that I would immediately know the problems in the barangay,’” Mukaram said.

‘Persons of interest’

On Dec. 23, Macalangan was on his way back to Binidayan when the police mobile car he and three companions were riding in was ambushed along the national highway in Pagayawan town.

His driver, Ramel Pangcatan, a BPAT member, was also killed while their two other companions, Asliah Adiong and Pat. Nasser Arafat, escaped unhurt.Mukaram said the police were looking at the owners of the confiscated smuggled cigarettes as “persons of interest” in the ambush.