MILF commander slain in shooting, companion wounded

FILE PHOTO

KIDAPAWAN CITY – A field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was killed while his companion was wounded in a shooting incident in Mlang, North Cotabato, on Sunday, police said.

Supt. Bernard Tayong, spokesperson of North Cotabato police, identified the slain MILF official as Jun Panangulon, of the MILF’s 108th brigade, and his wounded companion as Toto Mangulayan, both of Barangay Gaunan in Mlang.

Panangulon and Mangulayan were on a motorcycle headed for a banana plantation in Purok 3, Barangay Gaunan, when confronted by at least four members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at about 4 p.m., said Superintendent Giovani Ladeo, Mlang police director.

The MILF commander and the MNLF members had a heated discussion, which led to a shooting incident where Panangulon and Mangulayan were hit, police said.

Responding policemen and soldiers found several empty shells of M14 and M1 Carbine rifles at the crime scene.

Police said investigation showed that the shooting could have been triggered by a family feud between that of Panangulon and another Moro family.

Pangungulon owned a vast banana plantation in Barangay Gaunan, where the MNLF members were reportedly based. /cbb