No police, military record of ‘kidnap-slay’ of Candao’s nephew, ally

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao — The police and the military have no record of the alleged "salvaging (summary execution)" here of the nephew of former Maguindanao governor Zacaria Candao and the brother of his spokesman.

The other day, Candao said they have confirmed that his nephew, Murad Bajunaid, and Haron Abdullah, younger brother of his spokesman, Odin Abdullah, were abducted and later killed, and their bodies buried in a secluded area at the boundary of this town and Mamasapano, both in the second district of the province.

Bajunaid and Abdullah, both provincial government employees, were last seen at the premises of the provincial capitol here late last month, Candao said.

Provincial administrator Norie Unas, speaking on behalf of Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan, said even the provincial police are not aware of the reported abduction-killing.

"Immediately after hearing former Gov. Candao complain about it over a local radio station, we initiated an immediate verification and found out that the local police do not have a record of the disappearance," Unas said.

Even so, Unas said the governor’s office is ready to help in the investigation if the relatives of Bajunaid and Abdullah would come forward and request for assistance in locating the two.

Candao ran in last year’s gubernatorial race but lost. He has a pending electoral protest with the Commission on Elections. — John Unson