MILF commander, village councilor killed in Sultan Kudarat

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines – A field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and a Maguindanao village councilor were killed when they were ambushed in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday, police said Thursday.

Senior Supt. Rex dela Rosa, Sultan Kudarat police provincial director, said Manubakan Abdul, alias Commander Garrison of the MILF 108th base command, and Abdulkadir Maslamama, a councilor of Barangay (village) Midkunding in Gen. SK Pendatun, Maguindanao, were riding in tandem on a motorbike when waylaid in Barangay Romualdez in President Quirino around 5 p.m.

Dela Rosa said the victims were heading to Barangay Katiko in Gen. SK Pendatun when ambushed by two men.

Von Al Haq, MILF military chief, confirmed Abdul was an MILF field commander and urged police to conduct a speedy probe.

Quoting reports from the 108th base command, Al Haq said the ambush site was near a police-militia detachment.

He said in the report the MILF got indicated that Abdul and Maslamama were traveling to Katiko to provide assistance to Abdul’s son, who had called about suspicious men tailing him.

“But they were the ones ambushed,” he said.

Al Haq said the police should conduct an impartial probe of the killing and the MILF in the area has been ordered to give way to an investigation.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer learned that the military has deployed peacekeeping forces in Katiko to preserve order, amid reports that followers of the slain MILF commander have been mulling vengeance.

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