Mangudadatu runs to Gibo after mall shooting

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Maguindanao gubernatorial candidate Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu met with Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer and former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. right after his two security escorts figured in a shooting incident inside the J.S. Gaisano South Mall here Thursday night, killing a trusted aide of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Teodoro happened to be also in this city for an overnight stay when he kicked off his Mindanao sorties Thursday.

Mangudadatu confirmed reports that he saw Teodoro at the Grand Regal Hotel here close to midnight Thursday after the Lakas presidential bet guested in the live television show of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name congregation based in this city.

Mangudadatu said he even accompanied Teodoro in his sorties the following day in Kidapawan City and Carmen, North Cotabato.

“I met with Gibo (Teodoro) because he is my friend. I paid him a visit and accompanied him. There was nothing to it. He is my friend,” Mangudadatu said, adding that they did not discuss the incident.

However, Teodoro kept mum about the issue.

The STAR tried to get a comment from Teodoro through text but got no reply.

Mangudadatu also admitted that he had wrongfully identified the shooting victim as one Tamano Mamalapat instead of Tamano Kagi Kamendan.

Mangudadatu said Mamalapat is still alive although he stressed that Kamendan is Ampatuan’s close aide.

“He is a karatista (martial arts expert) and he is said to be a ‘hitman’ of Andal Sr.,” Mangudadatu said.

Mamalapat was reportedly among those in the list of persons wanted for involvement in the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre.

Mangudadatu also denied the allegations of Kamendan’s wife that he ordered his two bodyguards to kill him.

Murder charges have been filed against Mangudadatu and his two bodyguards, Police Officers 1 Surab Bantas and Ibrahim Langalen, for Kamendan’s death.

Mangudadatu said he would file the necessary counter-affidavits to prove that it was Kamendan who attempted to snatch his daughter and at the same time grabbed the service firearm of his bodyguard, triggering the shooting at the fourth floor of the J.S. Gaisano Mall.

In a related development, at least 42 policemen of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) implicated in the Maguindanao massacre had been relieved and were transported to Camp Crame in Quezon City.   – With Rose Tamayo-Tesoro