MILF commander, village chief son slain in Maguindanao ambush; 'rido' eyed

From InterAksyon (Aug 21): MILF commander, village chief son slain in Maguindanao ambush; 'rido' eyed

A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and his son, a barangay captain, were killed in an ambush in Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao province Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities say the main suspect in the ambush of Datu Mohamad, also known as “Kumander Bato” of the MILF’s 106th Base Command, and his son Sadam, barangay captain of Togal, where the incident happened, is also an MILF commander, Kagi Sajid, or “Kumander Saya” of the MILF National Guard and the 104th Base Command.

The Mohamads were on their way home on a motorcycle when they were shot dead.

Developing information indicates the two MILF commanders have been at odds since the 1990s and the animosity was revived during last year’s barangay election, when their sons ran against each other for village chief of Togal.

The military immediately deployed troops to Togal to prevent the situation from worsening amid reports the slain MILF commander's men and kin were massing up for possible retaliation and tensions drove several families to flee the village, according to Lieutenant Colonel Markton Abo, commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion.

The joint military-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities has already moved to pacify the warring groups.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/93699/milf-commander-village-chief-son-slain-in-maguindanao-ambush-rido-eyed