Police to file charges vs MILF commander attackers
GUINDULUNGAN, MAGUINDANAO — Police are preparing to file charges against the gunmen who killed nine relatives including a commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in a remote village here on Saturday.
The victims and the perpetrators were locked in a long running family feud involving territory and land conflict, according to Capt. Fayeed Cana, Maguindanao police spokesperson.
Police, backed by military forces, are now hunting down Jordan Mama Lintang, alias “Commander Jordan,” his son Morsid and several armed followers for killing Peges Lentagi Mamasainged alias “Commander Black Magic” of the BIAF.
Police insisted that both belonged to the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the military arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), although Von Al Hag, spokesperson of MILF, insisted only Mamasainged belonged to MILF.
“The protagonists were feuding cousins,” Capt. Cana said, adding that charges for multiple murder and frustrated murder were already being prepared against the suspects for filing before the prosecutor’s office Monday.
Aside from Commander Black Magic, those who were killed included Mamasainged’s sons Johari, Sadam, Sader, cousins Kamar and Tani, and three other armed followers.
Article continues after this advertisementThree others in Mamasainged’s convoy of two SUVs — Anwar Dimasingian, Baunal Lumabad and Sanjen Mamasainged — were critically injured and were now fighting for their lives in a hospital.
Article continues after this advertisementAl Hag told the Inquirer Sunday the MILF had deployed a team to investigate the incident and to help prevent it from getting worse.
“It’s confirmed that those people (who were) ambushed were our men. The suspects are not connected with us,” he said, refuting Cana’s claim.
Al Hag said the MILF was also checking if the ambush was election-related.
Commander Black Magic, his sons, and followers were on board a Mitsubishi Montero and Ford Ranger heading for Ampatuan, Maguindanao for a settlement of the “rido,” involving them and cousins, led by Commander Jordan, when they were ambushed in Sitio Dam, Barangay Malumamis here at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
The Guindulungan police said that aside from killing the victims, the suspects also carted away their wallets, undetermined number of pistols and rifles, magazines, all their mobile phones and other personal items.
Scene of the crime operatives found more than 100 empty shells of caliber 45 pistol, M-16 and M-14 assault rifles at the site of the murder. With report from Jeoffrey Maitem
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