Daring gun attack in Cotabato City kills 1, wounds 4
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 9 Jan) – A daring attack by a lone gunman against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders boarded in a pickup truck in the middle of the city’s commercial center in broad daylight Wednesday afternoon killed one and wounded four others, one of them now in critical condition, police said.
The incident around 2 p.m. at the junction of Gov. Gutierrez Ave. and Sinsuat Ave., which City Police Director Jibin Bongcayao said could be due to rido or clan feud, was recorded in a city traffic CCTV as the gunman followed a gray Toyota Hilux pickup truck and opened fire.
“We just learned that this is a rido of feuding clans from Sultan Sa Barongis town in Maguindanao del Sur,” said Col. Bongcayao. “It just happened that they brought their war here,” he added.
Bongcayao said that the clan feud was settled before, but from what happened, the rift was apparently ignited again.
Police said the gunman was positively identified by his targets as Kanandok Mukadas, 33.
The CCTV footage showed the gunman – in maong pants, red T-shirt and wearing a baseball cap – was hiding behind plants by the sidewalk in the corner, apparently waiting for the right opportunity. He then approached the Hilux as it was turning left on the busy intersection and opened fire toward those inside the pickup truck. He did not fire at the other passengers boarded at the open compartment at the back.
The gunman then ran towards a motorcycle waiting in the middle of M. Jarabelo St. nearby and immediately left with the driver.
Capt. Teofisto Ferrer, Police Station 2 commander, said eight shells from a caliber .45 pistol were found in the crime scene.
Killed on the spot was Akmad Kanapia Utto, 25, the driver of the target vehicle.
Ferrer said wounded in the attack were Marathi Felmin, brigade commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command; Jaypee Emran, commander of the MILF’s 16th Brigade; Alladin Utto; and Tahir Tega Sam, 61. Those unharmed were identified as Johar Felmin, 30; Nasrullah Maulan, 32; Yusop Kamad, 42; Said Felmin, 27; and Mar Angkangat, 27.
Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao was disgusted about the incident and promised heads will roll after the city was mocked in social media.
“Where were the police at the outpost when the shooting happened?” the mayor asked. “I generously praise and thank our police personnel for their good work, but I won’t tolerate those who are sleeping on the job,” he added.
Matabalao said in his Facebook page that he and Col. Bongcayao have agreed that, following due process, heads will roll if policemen are found to be remiss in their duties. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)
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