1 killed, 4 hurt in ambush on candidates’ convoys in Maguindanao, North Cotabato

At least one person was killed while four others were injured in two separate ambuscades against candidates in Maguindanao and North Cotabato on Saturday, the military said.

Kiang Nasser, a nephew of South Upi mayoralty candidate Mohammad Digo “Datu Baba” Omar Jr., was killed when the latter’s convoy was ambushed along in Km 30 of the road in North Upi, Maguindanao, around 5:30 p.m., Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said.

Omar’s uncle, Turno Omar, was injured and brought to the Datu Blah Sinsuat Hospital.

Omar, a candidate of PDP-Laban, is one of seven people running for mayor of South Upi. Another candidate is incumbent Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong, who is running under the Liberal Party.

Around 11:50 p.m. the same day, three supporters of Floro Allado, a vice mayoralty candidate in Banisilan, North Cotabato, were injured when armed men ambushed his convoy in Brgy. Wadya.

Allado and his supporters were on their way home from campaigning in Brgy. Gastav, on board his Ford Everest and commando-type owner jeep, when they were fired upon, Hermoso said.

The candidate was not hit, but three of his supporters were wounded and brought to the Wao Hospital in Wao, Lanao del Sur, according to the military official.

Allado is one of four people running for vice mayor in Banisilan. (John Roson)

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Pastor, family gunned down in Sultan Kudarat

Unidentified armed men shot dead a Protestant pastor, his wife, and two children in an ambush in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, on Wednesday night, police said.

Rey Debarbo, 44, a Fundamentalist Baptist pastor; his wife Renaly, 39; and their daughters Catherine Faith, 14; and Karen, 8, all suffered multiple bullet wounds from an M16 rifle and a caliber-.45 pistol, PO1 Ernie Lagaña, investigator at the Isulan Police, said by phone.

Rey, Renaly, and Karen also suffered bullet wounds to the head while Catherine Faith’s face was grazed by a bullet, Lagaña said.

The shooting occurred around 9:10 p.m. while the Debarbos, residents of Brgy. Kalawag Dos, were passing through Leonora Homes, Brgy. Sampao, on a motorcycle.

“Nag-attend sila ng birthday party ng kaibigan nila. Nung pauwi na po sila, parang inabangan sila,” Lagaña said.

The investigator, however, said he and his team-mates know nothing more about the gunmen as people living near the crime scene were already asleep at the time of the incident, or just do not want to testify.

“Wala pong mag-witness sir eh, kasi nung pumunta po kami dun, nung nagputukan na daw po, sarado na lahat ng bahay. Patay lahat ng ilaw pagdating namin,” Lagaña said.

Police have also interviewed the birthday celebrant, Adie Duran, who told them that Rey was a both a “Skylab” operator and pastor in Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

“Inaalam pa namin ang motive sir, kasi ‘yung pastor naman po parang imposible naman na magkaroon ng kaaway ‘yun… tapos yung mga bata, wala naman ‘yung mga kamalay-malay,” Lagaña said. (John Roson)

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Vice mayor gunned down in North Cotabato

Armed men shot dead Vice Mayor Policronio Dulay of Kabacan, North Cotabato, at the town’s public market Friday afternoon, police said.

Dulay was shot in front of a book store at the public market along USM Ave., Brgy. Poblacion, around 3 p.m., Central Mindanao regional police spokesman Senior Insp. Benjamin Mauricio said in a phone interview.

Initial investigation indicated that the two assailants were riding on a motorcycle.

Investigators have yet to determine the assailants’ identities and motive, Mauricio said. (John Roson)

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Bomb blast hits 2 buses in Sultan Kudarat; at least 6 hurt

At least six people were injured when a bomb exploded and hit two passenger buses in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, late Saturday afternoon, police and military officials said.

Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police director, said the explosion occurred at the “roundball,” or rotunda, in Brgy. Kalawag 2, around 5:45 p.m.

The explosion hit a Husky bus (UWI-541) driven by Nelson Pallado and a Yellow Bus Line unit (MVV-325) driven by Robinson Salatutan, Balquin said in a text message.

The blast injured Salatutan and his 23-year-old conductor Emil Sangki, as well as passengers Hilmor Hapinat, 36; Jonathan Delfin, 23; Kevin Dolfo, 19; and Rachel Catequista, 27, Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said in a separate message.

Initial investigation by the Army’s Explosives and Ordnance Disposal team indicated that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device made of ammonium nitrate, fuel, and oil, and had nails for shrapnel, Asto said.

Flames engulfed the Husky bus, which was traveling from Cotabato City to Tacurong City, and had to be put out by firefighters, Balquin said. (John Roson)

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2 killed, 6 hurt in Cotabato City ambush

Two persons were killed and six others, including a barangay chairman, were injured in an ambush in Cotabato City on Wednesday morning, police said.

Killed were Brgy. Rosary Heights 5 chairman Amil Sula’s 18-year-old niece Sherasmine Salik Abdullah and the van’s driver, Paik Sultan, Cotabato City Police deputy chief for operations Supt. Marlou Martinez said.

Sula, his wife Jenna, aunt Baikan Salik Abdullah, Muslima Mita Salik, Taya Macalnas, all suffered bullet wounds to the different parts of the body.

The barangay chairman’s 7-year-old daughter is in critical condition, Martinez, who is also the city police’s spokesman, said in a phone interview.

A distant cousin of Sula, identified as Bai Jasmine Abdullah, and a 12-year-old relative survived the attack unscathed.

Sula, his family, and relatives were travelling along Don Rabago st., Brgy. Rosary Heights 4, on a Toyota Hi-Ace van (BEL-263) around 7:15 a.m. when an undetermined number of armed men fired upon their vehicle.

“Within city proper naman ‘yun although hindi ‘yun masyadong dinadaanan, dun sila tinambangan sa may sementeryo… binakbakan sila hanggang sa napahinto sila dun malapit sa DPWH building,” Martinez said.

The attackers used high-powered firearms and “many” empty cartridges of different calibers were found at the scene, he said.

Police conducted checkpoints in different parts of the city after the incident, but the operations have so far yielded negative results, Martinez said.

“Sa ngayon, ang intelligence operatives natin ay naka-deploy lahat, naghahanap tayo ng information, bini-beef up din ‘yung mobile patrolling natin,” he said.

Investigators have yet to determine the motive for the attack, but are not discounting the possibility that it was politically-motivated, according to the police official.

“Open pa ‘yun (political angle), lahat ng anggulo, kakausapin muna natin si kapitan, para malaman natin kung anong motive, sa ngayon lahat open pa,” Martinez said. (John Roson)

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Dentist nabbed in Cotabato drug bust

Authorities arrested a dentist and three other people after they were caught sniffing shabu inside a drug den in Cotabato City.

Dr. Rainier Masukat, a rural health dentist; Marvin Sinsuat, 40; Rosello Paches, 33; and Von Lluna, 24, were arrested inside the drug den in Brgy. Bagua 3 on Monday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Arturo Cacdac said.

The illegal facility was discovered after members of the PDEA-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao conducted an entrapment operation against a suspected drug pusher, Cacdac said.

An undercover PDEA agent pretended to buy shabu from “watch-listed” pusher Ricky Cimafranca at the latter’s home, but the target managed to escape after handing over the illegal drug, Cacdac said.

A hot pursuit ensued, prompting other operatives to enter Cimafranca’s house where Masukat and the others were having a “pot session,” he said.

Masukat, Sinsuat, Paches, and Lluna will be charged for visiting the drug den. Cimafranca will be charged for selling dangerous drugs and maintaining a drug den, Cacdac said. (John Roson)

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Rasuman scam brains nabbed; did not hide – PNP

Authorities arrested the alleged mastermind of an investment scam during an operation in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, Tuesday afternoon, a police official said.

Jacob “Coco” Rasuman was arrested around 2:15 p.m. at his home in Brgy. Panggao Saduc, Senior Supt. Romeo Magsalos, Lanao del Sur provincial police director, said in a phone interview.

“Hindi naman siya (Rasuman) nagtago, taga-doon naman siya talaga,” Magsalos said, belying reports that the suspect hid for fear of reprisal from his victims.

Authorities were only able to arrest Rasuman on Tuesday, when the court issued a warrant, according to Magsalos.

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 10 served the warrant with the help of policemen and members of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, he said.

“(Rasuman) has a similar scheme with Aman,” Magsalos said, referring to another investment scam that duped thousands of people in Mindanao of an estimated P12 billion. (John Roson)

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2 killed, 5 hurt in Maguindanao blasts

(Update) Two improvised explosive devices (IED) went off in Maguindanao on Monday morning, killing two people and injuring at least five others, police and military officials said.

A “cellphone-triggered” IED went off in Sitio Layning, Brgy. Salvo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, around 8:23 a.m., Senior Supt. Jaime Pido, Maguindanao Provincial Police director, said in a phone interview.

“Motorcycles usually pass by that area,” Pido said, adding the bomb was made of an 81-millimeter mortar ammunition and appeared “similar” to other IEDs that went off in the province in the past.

Minutes later, around 9 a.m., another bomb went off in the neighboring village of Brgy. Iginagampong, Datu Unsay, injuring six people, Pido said.

“Dalawa daw ‘yung namatay dun sa anim na wounded, yun ang sinabi sa akin ng chief of police ko dun sa Datu Unsay” Pido said when contacted Monday evening.

“Ayaw lang daw magbigay ng pangalan nung mga tao dun… pagkaputok, kinuha agad, dinala (‘yung mga bangkay),” he said.

The police official, however, confirmed that both fatalities were members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said one Basit Abas alias Basco, a member of the BIFF, was hit by shrapnel on the face in the blast in Brgy. Salvo.

Abas, along with other BIFF members under Mohaiden Animbang alias Karialan were passing through the area on motorcycles when the bomb exploded.

Animbang and his men were on the way to attend a “kanduli” or thanksgiving event hosted by a certain Tong in Brgy. Iginagampong, Asto said.

The explosion prompted the BIFF members to fired their guns at different directions for two minutes before they resumed their travel, he said.

However, as the group was nearing the “kanduli” venue in Sitio Kalot, Brgy. Iginagampong, another IED made of an 81-millimeter mortar exploded.

Karialan and five followers of a certain Tambako were hit in the second explosion, Asto said.

Meanwhile, Pido said the thanksgiving event in Brgy. Iginagampong is different from another “kanduli” that Mayor Zahara Ampatuan of neighboring Shariff Aguak was set to hold in her town on Tuesday. (John Roson)

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Blasts rock Maguindanao, 6 hurt

(Update) Two improvised explosive devices (IED) went off in Maguindanao on Monday morning, injuring at least seven people, police and military officials said.

A “cellphone-triggered” IED went off in Sitio Layning, Brgy. Salvo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, around 8:23 a.m., Senior Supt. Jaime Pido, Maguindanao Provincial Police director, said in a phone interview.

“Motorcycles usually pass by that area,” Pido said, adding the bomb was made of an 81-millimeter mortar ammunition and appeared “similar” to other IEDs that went off in the province in the past.

Minutes later, around 9 a.m., another bomb went off in the neighboring village of Brgy. Iginagampong, Datu Unsay, injuring six people, Pido said.

Col. Prudencio Asto, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said one Basit Abas alias Basco, a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), was hit by shrapnel on the face in the blast in Brgy. Salvo.

Abas, along with other BIFF members under Mohaiden Animbang alias commander Karialan were passing through the area on motorcycles when the bomb exploded.

Animbang and his men were on the way to attend a “kanduli” or thanksgiving event hosted by a certain Tong in Brgy. Iginagampong, Asto said.

The explosion prompted the BIFF members to fired their guns at different directions for two minutes before they resumed their travel, he said.

However, as the group was nearing the “kanduli” venue in Sitio Kalot, Brgy. Iginagampong, another IED made of an 81-millimeter mortar exploded.

Karialan and five followers of a certain Tambako were hurt in the second explosion, Asto said.

Meanwhile, Pido said the thanksgiving event in Brgy. Iginagampong is different from another “kanduli” that Mayor Zahara Ampatuan of neighboring Shariff Aguak was set to hold in her town on Tuesday. (John Roson)

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Cops hunt down bomb-rigged motorbike’s owner

Police are now tracking down the owner of the bomb-laden motorcycle that was found at a Sultan Kudarat rotunda leading to Maguindanao on Friday.

Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police director, said the motorcycle was found to be registered to a certain Cristobal Campungan, a resident of Quezon blvd. in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

“We have already asked the provincial director of North Cotabato to help locate the owner of this motorcycle and invite him for questioning, why his motorcycle was used, at bakit isang taon nang expired ang rehistro,” Balquin said in a phone interview.

The motorcycle was found at the rotunda in Isulan on Friday, the third anniversary of the massacre in neighboring Maguindanao.

Two sets of bombs – one with two 60-millimeter mortar ammunition and another with two 81-millimeter mortar ammunition – were found hidden under the vehicle’s seat.

Police and military personnel, who responded to a tip form a “concerned citizen,” found the bombs already smoking when they arrived at the scene, but still managed to defuse these.

“‘Yung dalawang IED (improvised explosive device) na ‘yun pagka sumabog will create tremendous damage, injuries kung hindi man, o baka marami ang mamamatay,” Balquin said in an earlier interview.

Balquin said they have yet to determine if the bombs were intended for those who attended the massacre’s commemoration, including Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto’ Mangudadatu who “usually” passes by the rotunda. (John Roson)

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