Palace condemns attack on town mayor

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered authorities to step up efforts to ensure peace and order in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, following the ambush of Shariff Aguak town Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Sr. on Sunday.

At a press briefing yesterday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos strongly condemns the attack against Ampatuan.

Castro said the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police immediately responded to the incident following orders from the President.

Castro urged the public to immediately report any strange or suspicious actions to authorities.

Pursuing police and soldiers killed three gunmen who fired a B40 anti-tank rocket at Ampatuan’s convoy, which wounded two of his bodyguards.

Officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Bangsamoro Police Regional Office confirmed yesterday that the slain attackers – Budtong Alim Pendatun, Tekz Malid Pendatun and Puasa Oting Madid – were wanted for motorcycle theft, armed robbery, murder, arson and trafficking of shabu and marijuana.

Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting Philippine National Police chief, said the PNP would form a Special Investigation Task Group to further investigate the case.

“The PNP will go after the masterminds and dismantle the entire network responsible for this attack,” Nartatez said, adding that authorities would not allow political violence to destabilize the region. — John Unson, Mark Ernest Villeza