Maguindanao town councilor survives ambush
Mindanao Armed Conflict • 14:30 PM Fri Jan 8, 2021
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Unidentified gunmen believed to be Moro bandits ambushed Friday a town councilor of conflict affected town in Maguindanao, the Army today said.
“The town councilor escaped unhurt,” said Lt. Colonel Jonathan Pondanera, commander of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion, of Councilor Basit Kamid.
Kamid, a member of South Upi Sangguniang Bayan and resident of Barangay Biarong, was on board his vehicle with his armed escorts when they were fired upon at 7:30 a.m. Friday near the Lamud Elementary School in Barangay Lamud, South Upi.
“He was safe, and nobody in his group was hurt,” Pondanera said in a report to the 6th Infantry Division based here. He could not say if the ambushers suffered casualties.
Pondanera, quoting the town official, said his armed escorts exchanged fires with the ambushers for about five minutes until the suspects fled.
Elements of Bravo Company of 57th IB and South Upi PNP proceeded to the area, secured the civilians and conducted pursuit operations against the suspects.
Initial investigation showed that the ambush was due to long standing land conflict in the area that the local government was trying to address to prevent bloodshed.
The ambush against Kamid came five days after gunmen, believed to be members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) ambushed the convoy of South Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular that left one hitchhiker dead and three others injured.
On New Year’s Day, some 30 houses of Indigenous Peoples were set ablaze by BIFF that also forced Tedurays to flee to safer grounds.
Mayor Insular and the town relief agency were heading for home after distributing relief goods to displaced families when the ambush occurred on January 3. He was unharmed.
Major General Juvymax R. Uy, Commander 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central commander is working with the Maguindanao provincial government and South Upi LGU to find means to end the harassment and to provide solution to land dispute.
The BARMM government through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs will be conducting a meeting with concerned individuals at South Upi on January 14, 2021.
Likewise, a Municipal Peace and Order Council Meeting will be spearheaded by Mayor Insular on January 14, 2021, at South Upi to ensure the security and safety of the people and the communities.
The Army pursuit operation was still on-going as of posting.