Eight people including five relatives of Mangudadatu clans were killed and four others were injured in an ambush allegedly blamed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The incident happened on Sunday at around 3:00 PM. at Barangay Tenuk in Mangudadatu town. According to Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu the victims were to inspect a road project in the area during the incident.
The victims were led by village chief Kumaken Gandalibo who were supporters of Mayors Ibrahim, Freddie and Zajid Mangudadatu. The gunmen responsible for the attack were using (–foul word(s) removed–)ault Rifle and B-40 anti-tank rockets, according to Maj. Marlowe Patria, civil-military relations officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Tauting Salendap of MILF 109th Base commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was the primary suspect of the attack although denied by spokeman Eid Kabalu of the MILF. Salendap and his followers were allegedly having a decade-old clan war. The cause of the fighting were to take control of strategic tracts of land in three adjoining Maguindanao towns – Buluan, Mangudadatu and Pandag –which are controlled politically by the governor’s family.
The Maguindanao ambush yesterday reminds us of the brutal killings last November 23, 2009, 57 people, including members of the Mangudadatu clan along with several media personnel, were killed in Ampatuan town while on their way to file the candidacy papers of Gov. Mangudadatu, who was then Buluan vice mayor.
The Maguindanao ambush that was blamed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front could possibly be affected if the incident will be proven guilty. The peace talks between the government and the MILF could possibly derailed because of the incident.
