'Rido' eyed as motive in Eid'l Fit'r ambush

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Rido or clan conflict is emerging as the motive that triggered the bloody Eid'l Fit'r ambush in Talipao, Sulu that left 23 civilians killed and eight others critically wounded.

A police special task group is continuing to gather pieces of  evidence on the ground to determine the motive of the ambush last Monday that was blamed on the Abu Sayyaf group led by Iddang Susukan and Pisih Sibih. 

“The way perpetrators killed their victims showed deep rage and it appears that it was not just mere ambush because the no one was spared including those innocent children,” a security official who refused to be named said.

The security official who is based in Sulu said their initial finding after looking at how the killing was perpetrated  is that  rido is the motive for the ambush.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Pio Catapang Jr. said security forces have been deployed to restore peace in the area.

Catapang made his assessment during his first visit as AFP chief at Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Catapang said civilians should continue to help the authorities after reports indicated that the ambush could  have been staged in  retaliation of the Abu Sayyaf against the civilians for aiding the military in the operation against the militants.

The military and police forces have stepped up security in the area to prevent any retaliation by surviving families of the victims as some of the perpetrators that joined the ambuscade have been identified by the survivors.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said military and police forces are stabilizing the security  to support the local police.

“This is a priority now on the ground to prevent any retaliation,” Guerrero said.

He said the 2nd Marine Brigade commander and the  provincial police are coordinating with the provincial peace and order council (PPOC) to ensure the villagers will not stage a retaliation and allow the authorities to render the justice.

Guerrero said the military is also supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the proper investigation and filing of charges against the perpetrators of the Talipao ambush incident.