Masked men gun down MNLF commander in Cotabato province

Police conduct a post-crime investigation outside the house of the slain MNLF commander, who was attacked at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23 by unidentified men. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

MIDSAYAP, COTABATO PROVINCE — Unidentified men, wearing ski masks and armed with assault rifles, killed Sunday an official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) right inside the official’s home in Barangay Bual Sur in this town.

Lieutenant Colonel Rolly Oranza, Midsayap municipal police chief, said Datu Jordan Tayuan, 59, an MNLF commander residing in Purok Uno, Bual Sur, was watching the news at 6 p.m. on Sunday, when men barged inside his house and opened fire.

“He died on the spot due to injuries in the head and body,” Oranza said in a radio interview. “We are now launching a manhunt,” he added.

Police found empty shells for a .45 pistol and M-16 rifle at the crime scene.

“He was brutally murdered. He was shot in the face,” a relative said in between sobs.

Oranza said the suspect quickly fled aboard a black mini-van toward the borders of Maguindanao and Cotabato province en route to Datu Piang town in Maguindanao, based on the testimony of witnesses.

Police suspected a personal grudge or “rido” (family feud) involving Tayuan and another Moro family as among the possible motives of the attack.

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