3 MILF men slain in Maguindanao del Sur

INQUIRER FILES

COTABATO CITY—Three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the military arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), were killed in separate attacks in Maguindanao del Sur province on Wednesday.

Police, however, could not say yet if the incidents were related to Monday’s midterm elections. The first attack happened at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in Pagalungan town, where MILF member Mastura Indal was driving home to the adjacent town of Datu Montawal when he was shot and killed by two men on a motorcycle.

Two hours later, two other MILF members, identified as Jefrey Baguilan and Hairodin Zacaria, were killed in an ambush in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town. Maj. Guiseppe Tamayo, provincial police spokesperson, said the attack could be due to “rido” (family feud) or robbery since the victims’ motorcycle was taken by the suspects.

In a statement, the BIAF condemned the attack and described the suspects as “peace spoilers.” The MILF said it would conduct a parallel investigation.