Maguindanao del Sur town councilor slain in gun attack

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Tuesday afternoon a municipal councilor of Buluan town, Maguindanao del Sur.

Colonel Ruel Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, identified the victim as Mohamamd Usman Alamada, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds in his body.

Captain Cemafranco Cemacio, Buluan police chief, said Alamada and his companion were standing in front of a roadside restaurant at the national highway fronting Buluan District Hospital when attacked by still unidentified assailants, who fled on board a motorbike.

“We strongly condemn the shooting of Councilor Alamada,” Sermese said in a statement on Wednesday.

Initial police reports said the shooting occurred at past 3 p.m. at the national highway in Barangay Poblacion.

The Maguindanao del Sur police office has created “Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Alamada” with Cemacio as commander to locate, identify the perpetrators, and file the appropriate case in court.

“I would like to assure the public that justice will be served and the perpetrators will be put behind bars,” Sermese said as he appealed to the public to provide information that could help in the early resolution of the case.

Sermese begged off providing the motive of the attack and the identities of the attackers.

Buluan Mayor Babydats Mangudadatu condemned the killing of Alamada, whom he said “always worked for the betterment of Buluan.”

He said the local government was working with the police for the speedy resolution of the case.

“To the perpetrators, know this: The arm of the law is long, and the gavel that shall strike you for this crime will be heavy,” Mangudadatu said.