Suspects in murder of Maguindanao town mayor now in MILF custody

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7): Suspects in murder of Maguindanao town mayor now in MILF custody

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said Wednesday it has in its custody the seven gunmen who shot dead the vice mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao last November 27.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said the suspects who he did not identify will undergo investigation in Camp Darapanan, the MILF stronghold in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The suspects were allegedly involved in the planning and execution of the murder plot against Vice Mayor Anwar Sindatok, 53, in his home in Barangay Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan.

Jaafar said the suspects all belonged to the MILF 118th base command. They were turned over to the MILF central committee by 118th base commander Ustadz Wahid Tundok.

Sindatok was in his home on Nov. 27, a Sunday, and had early morning visitors he entertained in a makeshift visitors' receiving area in his residential compound.

While the vice mayor and his guests were in the middle of discussion over cups of coffee, gun bursts were heard, according to Sindatok's household members who asked not to be named.

The vice mayor sustained gunshot wounds in his head and body and died on the spot, according to Senior Insp. Rasul Pandulo, Maguindanao police spokesperson.

Witnesses said the gunmen quickly fled on board a privately owned multicab vehicle. Sindatok, elected as the town's No. 1 councilor, was named vice mayor after the town's elected vice mayor, Arnida Dimaukom, assumed the post of her late husband, Mayor Samsodin Dimaukom.

Mayor Dimaukom who was tagged by President Duterte as one of Maguindanao's narco-politicians was killed in a police anti-drug operation in Makilala, North Cotabato.

Police investigators believed the murder of Sindatok was a result of political instability in the town.

The MILF also deployed peacekeepers in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, in coordination with the military, to help restore normalcy in the troubled municipality.

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