Partisan natives kill militiaman

COTABATO CITY — Suspected partisan Tirurays, allegedly campaigning for a mayoral candidate, gunned down a militiaman and wounded another in Sunday’s ambush in Upi, Maguindanao.

The slain militiaman, identified only as a certain Menitez, died on the spot when the ambushers peppered their vehicle with bullets along the Cotabato-Upi highway.

Menitez’s companions returned fire, triggering a brief gunbattle. Another militiaman, Manolo Ramon, was wounded in the firefight.

Upi Mayor Datu Michael Sinsuat called on the 6th Infantry Division to deploy more soldiers along critical stretches of the Cotabato-Upi Highway, where ambuscades and robberies often occur.

"The armed men responsible for the ambush have always been spotted there, roaming around with their firearms, campaigning for a politician aspiring for the mayoral post of Upi," said Sinsuat, who is serving his third and last term as mayor.

Sinsuat said many of his constituents in hinterland barangays have asked the Commission on Elections to transfer their voting precincts to the coastal villages, which are safer and accessible to soldiers and policemen.

"People in at least seven highland barangays want their precincts clustered on neutral grounds on May 14 for fear of these partisan natives. I hope the Comelec will act on this problem immediately," Sinsuat said. — John Unson