MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – Police and military forces here have launched a manhunt against a sub-leader of the ISIS linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters tagged in the killing of a farmer and wounding of his family of three on Thursday night.
Supt. Gilbert Tuzon, Midsayap town police chief, said the manhunt against Haron Mama Guimalo has been launched by the Midsayap police and Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion (IB).
Tuzon said the BIFF, armed with assault rifles, attacked the house of Franco Mantikayan in the village of Tumbras at around 8 p.m. while the family was watching television.
Mantikayan died on the spot while his wife Badria, 42, and his two female children, aged 7 and 3 years old, were injured. The survivors are now recuperating at a private hospital here.
Tuzon and 1Lt. Marjon Guadalquiver, Alpha company commander of 34th IB, led government forces in conducting the post-crime investigation.
Quoting a witness, Tuzon said Guiamalo and about 10 of his followers arrived in the village on separate motorbikes and subsequentlly strafed Mantikayan’s house.
Tuzon said the slain Mantikayan was a trusted aide of the late Barangay Tumbras chairperson Mama Taha, an arch-enemy of Guimalo.
“The motive was personal grudge between the suspects and the victim,” Tuzon said.
Police investigators recovered 30 empty shells for M-16 Armalite rifle at the crime scene.
Tuzon said charges of murder and frustrated murder are to be filed against the suspects. (PNA)
