Mangudadatu vows to act on extortion

COTABATO City—Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu vowed to act on reports that extortion by groups engaged in “protection racket” that is causing the deplorable condition of the national highway to be unattended by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and private contractors.

“We don’t tolerate this activity and we want to know what group is doing this,” said Mangudadatu, whose constituents, mostly motorists, complained of seemingly impassable concrete stretch with several potholes and cracks.

The Pagalungan and Montawal towns in Maguindanao that interconnect the Cotabato-Davao highway have been left unattended despite its condition that vehicles have to slow down to protect it from huge humps and bumps, said Pagalungan Mayor Norodin Matalam.

Matalam, who met with village officials and members of the municipal legislative council, wondered why the “still good-looking condition” of the national highway in North Cotabato undergoes massive rehabilitation.

North Cotabato Representative Jesus Sacdalan explained that the ongoing structural repair is part of the DPWH upgrading of the national highway to accommodate heavy-tonnage cargo trucks and armored vehicles.

Mangudadatu has enjoined local government units to ensure the security and safety of construction workers and heavy equipment against possible threats from saboteurs.

“We have our peacekeeping forces from the police and military to take care of security and they are more than willing to perform their tasks so there will be no more reason why make us as a second priority of concern,” Mangudadatu said.

He said the Datu Paglas and Buluan portion of the highway that connects Tacurong City to Makilala, North Cotabato, has also been neglected.

“I smell fish of irregular transaction and I hope I’m wrong,” Mangudadatu said, adding that a P10-million overlane asphalting project in Datu Paglas has been subcontracted by an alleged kin of a provincial lawmaker.

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong has assured that the Maguindanao towns traversed by the national highway needing face-lift would soon be attended to.

Datumanong said the security problem raised by private contractors against lawless elements has reached the attention of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Colonel Benjamin Hao, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, has expressed readiness to protect highway construction men and their equipment.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), likewise, assured help to ensure that concreting work of the national highway would be free from pressure and intimidation.

“Any project beneficial to all has our support and we will see to it that it is realized without hassle,” said MILF political affairs vice chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.—Charlie C. Señase, Inquirer Mindanao