BIFF strafed house in North Cotabato, killing farmer, injuring his family
Local News • 18:45 PM Fri Mar 23, 2018
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
MIDSAYAP,
North Cotatabato – Police and military forces here have launched a
manhunt against a sub-leader of ISIS linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
for killing a farmer and wounding his family of three Thursday night.
Supt. Gilbert
Tuzon, Midsayap town police chief, said the manhunt against the sub-leader of
BIFF, identified by residents as Haron Mama Guimalo, was a joint effort of
Midsayap PNP and 34th Infantry Battalion.
Tuzon said suspected
BIFF, armed with assault rifles, strafed a house in the village of Tumbras where
Franco Mantikayan, his wife and two children, were watching television at 8
p.m. Mantikayan died on the spot while
his wife Badria, 42 and his two female children, aged 7 and 3 years old were
injured.
They are now
recuperating at a private hospital in Poblacion Midsayap.
Tuzon and 1Lt.
Marjon Guadalquiver, Alpha company commander of 34th Infantry
Battalion led government forces in conducting post crime investigation.
Quoting a
witness, Tuzon said Guiamalo and about 10 of his followers arrived in the
village on separate motorbikes and strafe Mantikayan’s house.
Tuzon said the
slain Mantikayan was a trusted aide of the late Barangay Tumbras chairperson
Mama Taha, an arch-enemy of Guimalo.
The motive was
personal grudge between the suspects and the victim, Tuzon said in a police
report. However, he said, investigators are looking at other possible motives.
Police scene
of the crime operatives recovered 30 empty shells for M-16 Armalite rifle.
He said charges of
murder and frustrated murder are being prepared against the suspects.Abu Misri Mama, speaking for one of the factions of the BIFF, said the Mantikayans and Guimalos are locked in long standing family feud.