DOH-ARMM sec seeks Duterte's help to unmask brother's attackers

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The regional health secretary in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has sought the help of two of the country’s most influential officials – the President and the director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP), to look into the attempt on the life of his elder brother who works as instructor in a state-run college in North Cotabato.DOH-ARMM secretary Dr. Kadil Sinolinding claimed the attack on the life of his elder brother, Dr. Harris, has something to do with the latter’s crusade against graft and corruption and the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the Cotabato Foundation College for Science and Technology (CFCST).The CFCST, former Children’s Education Foundation Village, is located in Barangay Doruluman, Arakan.It caters to poor orphans, mostly Moro and indigenous peoples.On August 2, Dr. Harris, onboard his car, was on his way inside the campus when two armed men who rode on a motorcycle pumped bullets into his vehicle.At least four bullets from a caliber 45 pistol landed on his car.None, however, hit Dr. Harris’ body.Dr. Kadil said his brother’s unrelenting campaign to rid the school from illegal drugs, mismanagement, and graft and corruption could have triggered the ‘mastermind’ to attempt to silence him.He refused to identify those behind the attack.The assault came months after Engineer Cedric Mantawil, CFCST planning officer, was wounded when anunidentified gunman shot him while driving along the national highway in President Roxas town, also in North Cotabato.Mantawil sustained wounds on his left arm.Two years ago, former CFCST vice-president Dr. Delfin Moreno was killed after he led a protest rally over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the school’s orphanage.The killing happened three days after the rally, reports said.Dr. Kadil said the attempt on Dr Harris is, in a way, connected to the attack on Mantawil and the killing of Moreno.” No’ng napatay na si Dr. Moreno, ako ay nabahala.Right after that, lumabas na ang threat sa buhay ng kuya ko…my brother is against graft and corruption,” said Dr. Kadil. The Sinolinding family, according to Dr. Kadil, wants due process of the law. The regional DOH-ARMM secretary accused the CFCST for inefficiency and incompetence in handling the crisis” inside the campus. That is why we’re calling the attention of the Cotabato police provincial office and Cotabato Governor Lala Mendoza.We also ask help from President Duterte and his police chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa, to intervene before the situation inside the school gets worse,” he said.CFCST president Dr. Sam Molao has denied his involvement on the attempt on Dr. Harris’ life. Even the Arakan Police can’t even give their conclusion on the case. We, on our part, have done a parallel investigation.In fact, I instructed our chief security to submit to me results of his probe,” said Molao.Molao hinted personal grudge between Dr Harris and his attackers could be behind the attempt, thus, it has nothing to do with his activities in school.” Let us assess the surrounding.May mga nakapaligid sa school.Dapat matapos na ang isyu na ‘yan.The attempt is very personal,” said the CFCST president.He also stressed his staunch campaign against use of illegal drugs among their students is as tough as his drive against smoking. Kung mayroon dyan na droga, nagagalit ako. Nagagalit nga ako sa sigarilyo lang.Sinisita ko nga sila kapag nakikita ko sila na naninigarilyo.Droga pa?,” he said.