Marawi convenes city peace council over killings

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

November 8, 2019

MARAWI CITY: Local authorities are alarmed over the merciless shooting of three construction workers by an unidentified assailant on Thursday in Barangay (Village) Emmie Punud just down the road of Area 1 in Barangay Sagonsongan here where more than a thousand displaced families are taking shelter.

Two of the victims died on the spot while one was wounded.

Col. Madzgani Mukaram, chief of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, identified the dead victims as George Ambad Butad and Arturo Nadayag Macasero, and the wounded as Dave Ranario Morsua, all residents of Matampay, Matungao, Lanao del Norte.

Earlier, on October 17, Ivan Polinar Almeda of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, a freshman student at the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus here, was shot by still an unidentified assailant. He died days later.’

The incidents had alarmed the city government and prompted City mayor Majul Gandamra to urgently convene a special meeting of the city Peace and Order Council.

In the meeting, the CPOC has agreed to engage different sectors to participate and cooperate with the authorities in order to maintain peace and order in the city and avoid such criminalities.

Mukaram said the victims were working as carpenters in Marawi City.

They were on their way to work on board a motorcycle driven by Macasero when their assailant flagged them down and had a brief conversation with them, he said.

"Suddenly the suspect, without apparent reason, shot the victims several times that caused the death of Butad and Macasero, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds," Mukaram said.

The killer then fled on a motorcycle, heading towards the direction of Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.

Morsua was brought to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Police is still investigating the motive of the crime. (MNY)