Police, Army hunt down ambushers of North Cotabato reelectionist councilor

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 1): Police, Army hunt down ambushers of North Cotabato reelectionist councilor

Police and military authorities in North Cotabato have put up peacekeeping forces in Banisilan town following an ambush against a reelectionist councilor Sunday afternoon.

Senior Supt. Danilo Peralta, North Cotabato police provincial director, has ordered the police in Banisilan to remain on heightened alert as the campaign period appears to be heating up.

Banisilan town Councilor Bobby Rajahmuda who is seeking reelection was on his way to a campaign sortie in the village of Busaun, Banisilan when armed men believed to be rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under Commander Tandah Tidong opened fire at around 3:00 p.m.

Rajahmuda and his driver Bobby Delfin were hurt but managed to elude fatal shots when his escort, Army Sgt. Vernie Hollero, returned fire.

Senior Inspector Ritchelle Alocilja, chief of the Banisilan police, said Rajahmuda and his companions were ambushed at an uphill curve in a secluded stretch of a farm-to-market road connecting the municipal center to Barangay Busaon.

Police investigators are now verifying allegations by witnesses that a certain Commander Tandah Tidong of the MILF and his men were behind the ambush.

Rajahmuda and his driver are now confined at a hospital in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

He told police that his family is locked in a long standing family feud with the family of Commander Tidong.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=512073