Suspect in town cop chief’s slay nabbed in Maguindanao Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 8, 2023): Suspect in town cop chief’s slay nabbed in Maguindanao Sur (By Edwin Fernandez)

(Infographic courtesy of PRO-BARMM)

AMPATUAN, Maguindanao Sur – Police arrested here Monday one of the suspects in the murder of a police lieutenant and foiled his attempt to execute another police officer securing a sports event in town.

In a report Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, police director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), identified the arrested suspect as Hamid Mling, a member of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Mling, 30, was also one of the suspects in the murder of Lt. Reynaldo Samson, Ampatuan town police chief, and Cpl. Salipudin Endab in an ambush on Aug. 31 last year.

Samson and his men were to serve a warrant of arrest against BIFF leader Abdulkarim Hasim, alias Commander Jacket, in Barangay Kapinpilan, Ampatuan when ambushed by the BIFF.

In February this year, Hasim was killed during a joint police-military operation at a bus terminal in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat province.

Citing intelligence information, Nobleza said Mling was seen suspiciously roaming at this town’s covered court, waiting for a chance to shoot another police officer securing the sports activities in Barangay Poblacion.

Mling, listed as a BIFF member operating in this municipality, yielded a .45-caliber pistol. Charges for violation of RA 10591 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act” are readied against him.

“The gun seized from the suspect will be subjected to ballistic examination at Regional Forensic Unit BARMM for investigation and verification,” Nobleza said.

Meanwhile, Nobleza also reported the arrest of two wanted persons facing two counts of murder before a local court during an operation in Barangay Marques, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Monday.

Nabbed were Sammy Diocolano Maton and Buagas Acob for murder, gunrunning and illegal drug pushing in the southern part of Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao Del Norte and Cotabato City.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207351