PNP still tracking down ex-Maimbung town vice mayor in Sulu after gunfight

Map of Sulu

MANILA, Philippines — While currently at-large, former Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan has not come out in the peripheral areas where his men and government troops figured in a deadly gunfight that foiled his arrest for murder and other criminal charges, Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Tuesday.

“Sa ngayon po, ang information pa rin po ng ating commander-on-the-ground ay nandoon pa rin po siya sa peripheral areas sa kung saan nangyari nga po yung firefight between sa government forces at sa grupo nga po ni Mudjasan,” Fajardo said in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

(As of present, the information from the commander-on-the-ground is that he remains in the peripheral areas where the firefight between government forces and the group of Mudjasan occurred.)

Fajardo added that government troops are tightening their restrictions in the area.

“Kasalukuyan po yung mga itinatag po na checkpoints and border control po doon po sa peripheral areas surrounding po doon sa location kung saan nangyari nga po yung putukan noong sabado ay ongoing pa po,” she said.

(Presently, the police established ongoing checkpoints and border control in the peripheral areas surrounding the location where the firefight occurred.)

Mudjasan, who faces charges for several counts of murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, is purportedly employing armed civilians and keeping loose firearms in his possession.

The shootout left one PNP Special Action Force personnel dead, while 14 others were injured.

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JPV