Task group formed to probe slay of Maguindanao dad

By Edwin Fernandez | Philippine News Agency

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao, February 24 – Maguindanao’s provincial police has formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to fast-track the probe into the murder of a Datu Saudi Ampatuan (DSA) town councilor earlier this week.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao Police director, described as “alarming” the killing of DSA Councilor Sahabudin Namli, 42, in Barangay Madia on Wednesday.

Namli was shot dead by two men near his home in Barangay Madia around noontime. He was the second elected town councilor killed in cold blood in Datu Saudi.

Last year, Datu Saudi’s No. 1 Councilor Anwar Sindatuk was slain in his home in Madia village by still unidentified gunmen.

Tello said the possible motive in the murder of Namli was “rido” (family feud).

“We are looking at other possible angle but rido is the closest,” Tello told reporters in an interview. “We are also looking at politics as one of the motives. We continue to gather evidences and information as to the brain and the perpetrators of Namli’s murder.”

The creation of SITG-Namli was conducted during the emergency DSA municipal peace and order council meeting that Mayor Anda Dimaukom had convened after the incident. 

Tello said the police and the military will intensify their law enforcement efforts, especially now that Mindanao is under martial law. 

“The campaign against loose firearms and private armed groups will move at high gear,” he said. 

Saynodin Guaipar, resident of Barangay Madia, told reporters that residents now fear for their lives. 

He admitted that many residents own guns to protect themselves from armed groups operating in the community. 

“If town elected officials are not safe, how much more we as ordinary citizens,” he said. 

Tello said it is still best for armed locals to voluntarily surrender their guns and trust the local police and the military in the area to protect civilians. 

(PNA/Photo by PNP Maguindanao)