PNP, army on alert after killing of MILF official in N. Cotabato

Posted to the Manila Bulletin (Jul 31): PNP, army on alert after killing of MILF official in N. Cotabato

Midsayap, North Cotabato — Police and military forces in Midsayap, North Cotabato and its environs have been placed on heightened alert following the death of a barangay captain and official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in a shootout with police last Tuesday.

Superintendent Reynante Delos Santos, Midsayap police chief, said armed followers of Ibrahim Simpal may launch retaliatory attacks against the police and the military over his death when he shot it out with a police Special Operations Group (SOG) team serving a warrant for his arrest.

Simpal, the elected village chief in Barangay Ulandang, Midsayap and known as “Commander Ibo” in the MILF, still has armed followers.

A police officer who asked to remain anonymous for lack of authority to speak to media said Simpal was one of North Cotabato’s most wanted men having three arrest warrants for illegal gun possession and involvement in the illegal drug trade.

http://www.mb.com.ph/pnp-army-on-alert-after-killing-of-milf-official-in-n-cotabato/