Artist's sketch of Maguindanao vice mayor's killer out

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Police yesterday released the artist’s sketch of the killer of the vice mayor of Barira town in Maguindanao who was gunned down last Sunday in his rented townhouse here.

The artist’s sketch was disseminated to the different police units even in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

This, as Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu is seeking an impartial investigation into the murder of Vice Mayor Alexander Tomawis.

“The death of Alex (Tomawis) must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible must be made answerable for it,” he said.

Mangudadatu said Tomawis was a staunch ally for the development of Maguindanao. “We have been discussing other possible projects for the development of Maguindanao shortly before the incident took place,” he said.

The Philippine National Police has created Task Force Tomas to fast-track the probe on the killing.

Both Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte have called on the police to make sure that the Tomawis case will be solved soon.

Mangudadatu said Tomawis was a big loss to Maguindanao, especially since the slain vice mayor was one of the development-oriented executives in the province.

He cited Tomawis’ efforts in strengthening the key towns that belong to the Iranun tribe in Maguindanao through the creation of the Iranun Development Council (IDC).

Tomawis was one of the active convenors of the IDC that comprises the towns of Barira, Buldon, Matanog, Parang, and Datu Blah Sinsuat.

The IDC mechanism was aimed at fast-tracking key development and infrastructure projects in the five municipalities.

Mangudadatu said he was supposed to administer yesterday the oath of office of the new IDC officials who would have been led by Tomawis himself, but this had to be reset to a later date due to the killing.

Mangudadatu also commended Tomawis for his efforts particularly in establishing the 511 emergency response project for the IDC member-towns.

Tomawis led the team that studied the Central 911 emergency response system of Davao City.

“We patterned the 511 center after the 911 system in Davao City although we still have a long way to go in terms of equipment. But what is good is we are able to gather all the security, medical units and other agencies concerned under one roof and that would enable us to address any emergency situation in the five member-towns of IDC,” Tomawis said in an earlier interview.

Mangudadatu vowed to continue supporting all the projects that Tomawis started in the province.

“In honor of Alex (Tomawis), we will continue whatever development projects he started in Maguindanao,” he said.