N. Cotabato town killings alarm officials, seek more Army and police personnel

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 5): N. Cotabato town killings alarm officials, seek more Army and police personnel

MLANG, North Cotabato -- Officials here have expressed alarm over the series of killings that hounded this highly agricultural town in North Cotabato.

Mayor Joselito Pinol, who chairs the municipal peace and order council, convened the MPOC Monday to discuss and find solution to the increasing crimes against life with a village chieftain as the latest victim.

Two of Pinol's security personnel have been separately liquidated last week while village chair Eduardo Panes of Barangay Libo-o, Mlang, North Cotabato was shot dead on November 2.

"The situation is very alarming, we need to stop this," Pinol who claimed he has received threats to his life and that of his escorts.

"A plot to liquidate me and my men was discovered and someone influential offered P1.5 million to erase us all," he added. He did not name the supposed brains to liquidate him and people close to him.

During the MPOC meeting Monday, a non-working holiday, four resolutions have been passed.

Pinol said the MPCO passed a resolution creating Mlang Task Group to be composed of Army, police and police multipliers to focus on prevention of violence and crimes against life in Mlang.

Another resolution was asking Army 602nd Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Ademar Tomaro and 6th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz to allow the local government utilize the Army Special Forces to help the police in maintaining law and order in Mlang.

The MPOC also passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to take steps to put a stop to crimes, like assigning the Army in helping police conduct mobile checkpoints.

Pinol said the MPOC also passed a resolution urging Senior Supt. Danilo Peralta, North Cotabato police director to deploy augmentation personnel to help the local police in putting a stop to the rash of killings, high profile crimes, including carnapping which is rampant in Mlang.

"We specifically request the police provincial office to assign a police special forces in Mlang," Pinol told reporters.

Pinol said at first he downplayed the threat against him and his camp but with the successive killings of his two escorts and the murder of Chairperson Panes, he was convinced the plot was real.

On Monday, North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza offered P100,000 reward money to anyone who can provide the police with information leading to the arrest of the suspects in Panes murder.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=583098