Police ask MNLF help in finding Sulu vice mayor wanted for murder

From the Manila Times (Jul 4, 2023): Police ask MNLF help in finding Sulu vice mayor wanted for murder (By Franco Jose C. Baroña)

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has sought the assistance of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in locating former Maimbung, Sulu Vice Mayor Pando Mudjasan who is facing multiple murder charges.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesman, admitted on Tuesday that it is hard for the PNP to pinpoint the exact location of Mudjasan, whose group clashed with combined police and Philippine Army personnel last June 24 in Maimbung that resulted in the death of a Special Action Force (SAF) commando and the wounding of 13 others, including two civilians.

Fajardo noted that Mudjasan, who was a former MNLF commander, knows certain areas in Sulu where he can hide and not be located. There is also the possibility that he is being coddled by other terrorist groups.

Fajardo said they were hoping that the MNLF will be able to convince Mudjasan to surface and face the cases filed against him.

The former local chief executive coddled Abu Sayyaf bandits which is one of the reasons why he was disowned by the MNLF.

Fajardo said the PNP has partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in continuing pursuit operations against Mudjasan who they believe is still in the province of Sulu.

Authorities were supposed to serve arrest warrants for murder and frustrated murder and a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives against Mudjasan when the firefight occurred on June 24.

The former vice mayor slipped out of the area, according to a police report, during the firefight.

Five of Mudjasan's supporters were also killed in the shootout.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/07/04/regions/police-ask-mnlf-help-in-finding-sulu-vice-mayor-wanted-for-murder/1899084