DILG, LMP order PNP to speed up probe on Masiu Mayor Pangandaman ambush

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA 

November 14, 2019

MARAWI CITY: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fast track its investigation on the ambush of Masiu, Lanao del Sur Mayor Nasser Pangandaman, Jr. and his companions.

In a statement, DILG chief Eduardo Año asked the country’s police force to ensure the arrest of suspects behind the ambush.

“The DILG condemns this atrocity which is a huge affront to the efforts of the government through our law enforcement groups to ensure peace and order in our communities. The PNP, in coordination with its military counterparts, should exert all efforts to arrest the suspects of this dastardly act,” Año said

On its part, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) strongly condemned the attack on the Lanao mayor and also urged the PNP to conduct immediate and thorough investigation ofthe incident.

LMP national president and Narvacan Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson said in a statement, “We vehemently urge the Philippine National Police to conduct immediate and thorough investigation on the ambush because we need to assure our Local Chief Executives that we can go through our official duties without fearing for our lives.”

“We are saddened and outraged that our Local Chief Executives are put in harm’s way in the fulfillment of our mandate as public servants,” Singson added.

On November 10, Pangandaman was on his way to preside over a meeting of the Municipal Peace and Order Council when his convoy was ambushed by still unidentified men carrying high-powered weapons.

The mayor and two others were injured but his police escort Pol. Corporal Jabber Pangandaman died in the incident.

After the incident, Año called for intensified security measures from police and military forces such as regular foot and mobile patrols in checkpoints. (MNY/RSP)