Dep-Ed exec, school principal hurt in Maguindanao shooting

A Department of Education (Dep-Ed) official and a school principal were injured after being shot by armed men in Salipada K. Pendatun town, Maguindanao, Sunday morning, the military said.

Abas Minsu, the Dep-Ed’s district supervisor for the town, and Teng Mangindra, principal of the Bai Tumbabay Elementary School, were brought to a hospital in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, due to injuries, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said.

The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. while Minsu and Mangindra were riding a motorcycle at the boundary of Brgys. Ramcor and Bagundang.

Minsu and Mangindra were heading towards Brgy. Ramcor when one of two men on another motorcycle shot them with a caliber-.45 pistol, Hermoso said.

Local police are still trying to determine the assailants’ identities and motive, he said. (John Roson)

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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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7 aid workers hurt in mishap in storm-wrecked Davao Oriental

Seven aid workers, mostly government doctors, were seriously injured in a vehicular accident after holding medical missions in typhoon-wrecked Baganga, Davao Oriental, Tuesday afternoon, a military official said Wednesday.

Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commander of the Army’s 10th civil-military operations battalion, identified the victims as Dr. Nic Cantiro, Dr. Almatin Dimaucom, Dr. Nor-ayin Salic, Dr. Junnah Mangacoy, Dr. Grace Espinosa, Dr. Taher Salaik, all members of the Maguindanao Provincial Health Office; and their driver Tuy Pangilan.

All seven were brought to the Cateel District Hospital and were later transferred to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

“Si Dr. Salaik lang ang stable. The rest (are in) critical condition,” Obligado said in a text message.

The incident occurred around 4:15 p.m. while the seven were travelling along the National Highway in Brgy. Saoquigue on a black Mitsubishi Pajero.

The seven were on the way to the incident command post (ICP) in Brgy. Lucod, which serves as a center of relief operations for victims of super typhoon “Pablo,” Obligado said.

“Pauwi na sila noon after a week of conducting medical missions, dadaan lang sila sa ICP bago umuwi,” he said.

“May iniwasan daw na motor kaya bumangga sa puno (ang sasakyan),” Obligado said.

Baganga, the town where “Pablo” (international name: Bopha) made its first landfall on Dec. 4, is one of the municipalities that bore the typhoon’s brunt.

Some 127 people died, more than 400 were hurt, and at least 48 remain missing in the town, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The storm also destroyed 6,900 houses in the town, which still has no communication lines and electricity, according to the NDRRMC. (John Roson)

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Backhoe man seeks witness protection

The alleged operator of the backhoe used to bury victims of the Maguindanao massacre has applied for the Department of Justice’s witness protection program (WPP), a police official said.

Bong Andal asked the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to provide him and his family security while he is waiting for the result of his application for the WPP, Dir. Samuel Pagdilao, head of the CIDG, said.

Andal earlier issued a statement saying that he is willing to provide testimonies regarding the 2009 massacre in Brgy. Salman, Ampatuan, Pagdilao said.

Andal, accused of burying half of the 56 massacre victims using a backhoe owned by the Maguindanao provincial government, was arrested on Saturday in Brgy. Kapinpilan, Midsayap, North Cotabato.

He was flown to Manila and brought to the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the prosecution raised the issue on Andal’s safety and asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 to send him either to the PNP Custodial Center or the CIDG’s detention facility, Pagdilao said. (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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Bomb-rigged motorcycle placed on road to Maguindanao

Authorities in Sultan Kudarat defused two powerful bombs rigged into a motorcycle that was left at a rotunda leading to Maguindanao on Friday, the third anniversary of the infamous massacre in the neighboring province.

Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police director, said one of the bombs had two 60-millimeter mortar ammunition while the other had two 81-millimeter rounds.

“When our EOD (explosives and ordnance disposal) team arrived, umuusok na ‘yung cord, fortunately ‘yung blasting cap na mag-iignite sana para mag-create ng explosion ay hindi pumutok,” Balquin said in a phone interview.

The bombs, which have a cellphone as triggering device, were placed under the seat of the motorcycle left at the rotunda in Isulan, he said.

“‘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.

A “concerned citizen” called the Isulan Police around 8:20 a.m. and reported seeing the motorcycle at one of the rotunda’s exits – the one leading to Maguindanao.

Members of the Isulan Police, along with soldiers, arrived around 8:30 a.m., cordoned the area, and were able to defuse the bombs around 9 a.m.

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.

Mangudadatu’s wife, relatives, supporters, and more than 30 media personnel were killed in the massacre in Ampatuan town on Nov. 23, 2009. (John Roson)

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PNP to ‘purge’ list of Maguindanao massacre suspects

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has ordered a review of the list of suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre following wrong arrests, which some people have reportedly made money from.

The task group hunting down the 92 massacre suspects who remain at large will “shift its strategy” by focusing on “operational research,” CIDG chief Dir. Samuel Pagdilao said in a statement issued ahead of the massacre’s third anniversary.

The move aims to determine the remaining suspects’ true identities and, “if necessary, to purge the list,” Pagdilao said.

Earlier, the CIDG’s Task Group Maguindanao reported that fictitious and similar names and aliases of the suspects, as well as lack of identifying documents, have made it difficult for investigators to make arrests.

Pagdilao said some manhunt operations have already resulted in the arrest of persons who were later proven to be not among those accused for the massacre.

He said the CIDG is investigating reports that some individuals have made money by leading authorities in making the wrong arrests.

Pagdilao said the CIDG has observed a “pattern” where an informant points authorities to a “suspect” in the massacre and, after the reward has been released, the arrested person produces documents proving he is not among the accused.

The PNP is offering P250,000 bounties for each of the massacre suspects who remain at large. (John Roson)

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15 provinces under election watchlist

Authorities have placed 15 provinces placed under a watchlist for possible violence in the upcoming midterm elections, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said.

In a press briefing, Roxas identified the provinces as Abra, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.

The provinces, which are home to intense political rivalry, history of armed violence, loose firearms, and private armed groups, are like a “powder keg,” Roxas told reporters.

“Ang mga ito ang may pinaka-high risk na magkaroon ng karahasan,” he said.

More cops on duty, jails checked

Roxas said police task forces will be sent to each of the provinces to help policemen already assigned there in securing the elections.

Police officials that have relatives or classmates who will run for posts in those provinces will be transferred to other areas.

Roxas said jails in the 15 provinces will also undergo a “judicial audit” so authorities can keep tabs of prisoners during the election period.

“Ito’y dahil madalas sinasabi na ang mga preso pinapalabas para gumawa ng karahasan tapos ipapasok lang uli,” he said.

‘The heat is on’

Meanwhile, Roxas said police have already recorded 35 election-related incidents nationwide, including the 15 watchlisted provinces.

“Ngayon pa lang nagkakainitan na,” he said.

In Maguindanao alone, six government officials have already been killed and at four private armed groups were monitored, Deputy Dir. Gen. Alan Purisima, commander of the national police’s election Task Force SAFE, said.

Eighty-five barangays in the province are affected by “threat groups,” Purisima said.

Roxas said 60 active and 47 “potential” private armed groups are being monitored nationwide.

There are 25,065 “loose firearms,” or those in the hands of criminals and rebels, while there are 552,338 firearms whose licenses have not been renewed, he said.

“Kabilang ang mga ito sa mga baril na maaring magamit sa halalan,” he said.

MILF help welcome

Meanwhile, Roxas said he is “open” to suggestions that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which just signed a “framework” peace agreement with the government, be tapped to help secure the elections.

However, Roxas said he still has to consult Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Teresita Deles and chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen on the matter.

“You have to understand that there’s also been years of mistrust, gaps, but this could be a good confidence-building measure,” he said. (John Roson)

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