Attack prompts tighter security in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY — Authorities have tightened security in Maguindanao, apprehensive that the other day’s bloodbath that marred a graduation ceremony in nearby Kabuntalan town and left six people dead and 20 others wounded was the first salvo of more election-related killings in the province.

Maguindanao Gov. Zacaria Candao said the Provincial Peace and Order Council which he chairs and the local council of religious leaders will recommend to the Commission on Elections the deployment of Marine units in selected towns on May 14 to prevent the outbreak of hostilities between rival political groups.

Six people were confirmed killed Wednesday noon when two children of a re-electionist mayor in Kabuntalan and their armed followers opened fire on a group of students holding their graduation rites, while a mayoral candidate was delivering a keynote speech.

Bau Susan Samad, who is running for mayor of Kabuntalan under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, said she was fortunate that she ducked for cover when she saw the gunmen aim their rifles at them.

Citing initial feedback, the Maguindanao police said the suspects responsible for the attack were led by siblings Sahabudin and Sebastian Daglok, sons of re-electionist mayor Salipongan Daglok.

Samad said the Daglok brothers and their followers fled from the scene after the shooting frenzy, aboard a pumpboat she had chartered to ferry her group to Barangay Maitum from the town proper.

Four of the fatalities have been identified as Osmeña Kabulan, 30; Andy Pananggulong, 24; Pikit Salik, 58; and Samad’s police escort, PO1 Sajid Sangkad.

The gunmen overpowered Sangkad and disarmed him of his service firearm, before shooting him point-blank with an assault rifle.

Samad said the gunmen first showed up at the graduation rites of the Maitum Elementary School, and mingled with the crowd gathered in front of a makeshift stage.

Police confirmed that 20 people were wounded in the attack. Some of them sustained only superficial wounds and went home after undergoing treatment.