3 MNLF men die in Cotabato ambush; arrested suspects yield firearms

KIDAPAWAN CITY —Three members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were killed, three others hurt, and one reported missing in an ambush in Matalam town in Cotabato on Saturday morning, police said Sunday.

Matalam town police chief Inspector Joseph Brian Placer said the attack on the victims took place in Purok Ragsak, Barangay Kibudoc of Matalam.

Placer identified the fatalities as Tata Angeles, 25 (farner); George Dilanggalen, 50, and Doring Panga, 40.

Those injured were Jomer Sultan, 17; Samsudin Dilanggalen, 18; and Datu Ali Sultan, 23, all are residents of Barangay Kibudoc.

Riding on three motorcycles, the victims were heading for their farm when armed men waiting in Purok Ragsak opened fire from a concealed position.

Three were killed on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds,  while three others—though wounded—managed  to escape.

Inspector Placer claimed that all the victims, including the one reported missing, are MNLF members of the Nur Misuari faction.

A Joint police and military pursuit operation resulted in the arrest of at least 16 suspects in the ambush.

Recovered from the suspects were assorted firearms and materiel including:

• M1 Caliber .30 Carbine Rifle without serial number,
• M1 Caliber .30 Carbine Rifle with serial Number 1303889,
• M1 Caliber .30 Carbine Rifle with serial number 3619389,
• M1 Caliber .30 Carbine Rifle with serial number 253903,
• M1 Caliber .30 Carbine Rifle with defaced serial number ,
• Caliber .30 M1 Garand  Rifle with serial number 1978298,
• M1 Caliber Garand rifle (Springfield) with defaced serial number,
• Caliber 7.62 mm M14 Rifle with serial number 1504330,
• Caliber 7.62 mm M14 Rifle with serial number 1391395,
• Caliber 5.56 mm M16A1 Rifle with serial number RPL89597,
• Caliber 5.56 mm M16A1 Rifle with defaced serial number ,
• Caliber 5.56 mm M16A1 (Colt) Rifle with serial number 9010383,
• Caliber 5.56 mm M16A1 (Elesco) Rifle with serial number 252337,
• Caliber 5.56 mm M16A1 Rifle with defaced serial number ,
• Homemade M79 Grenade Launcher with serial 357045,
• Homemade M79 Grenade Launcher without serial number,
• Fourteen (14) magazine of Caliber 7.62mm  M14 Rifle (loaded),
• One magazine of Caliber 7.62mm  M14 Rifle (empty),
• Six pieces Long magazine of M16A1 caliber 5.56mm Rifle (loaded),
• Two  pieces long magazine of M16A1 caliber 5.56mm (empty),
• Nine pieces short magazine of M16A1 caliber 5.56mm Rifle (loaded),
• 10 clips with ammo of Caliber .30 M1 Garand Rifle,
• Four clips of Caliber .30 M1 Garand Rifle,
• Four units of short magazine loaded with ammunition of Caliber .30 M1    Garand  Rifle,
• Four units of long magazine loaded with ammunition of Caliber .30 M1       Garand  Rifle,
• One Length (87)  live ammunition of Garand rifle,
• Six pieces of M203 grenade,
• Two Pieces of rifle grenade,
• Nine  pieces of ammunition of caliber .30mm.

Authorities also apprehended four minors, Placer said, adding that the suspects are being detained at the Matalam Police Office.

Also he said that investigators are eyeing land conflict as primary motive for the attack as both parties are claiming the lands being tilled by the victims.

“But we are still gathering enough evidences but we are not closing to other motives of the crime,” Placer added. —LBG, GMA News