PNP eyes 3 possible motives for attack as Datu Piang town normalizes

Police authorities are looking at three possible motives behind the attack of some 50 armed men in the town of Datu Piang, Maguindanao on Thursday night.

In his report to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, PNP Chief Police General Debold Sinas said the ongoing investigation into the December 3 attack by suspected members of a militant group operating in the region indicates three possible motives, including:

• political rivalry among local executives of Datu Piang, particularly between the Mayor and Vice Mayor over certain political issues; 
• vengeance for the death of BIFF [Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter] member Abu Suffian in a police operation in Cotabato City last December 1; and
• personal grudge of some BIFF members against the chief of police of Datu Piang most likely over the arrest of two its members.

Also, citing Bangsamoro Autonomous Region police report, Sinas said regular business activity has returned to normal in the municipality since last Thursday’s incident that momentarily disrupted regular activities. 

Moreover, he said the government reinforcements composed of 70 personnel have been stationed in Datu Piang to maintain peace and order to normalcy.

Sinas said all other nearby Municipal Police Stations in the province were also alerted against similar incidents of armed harassment on civilian communities.

On the evening of on Thursday, December 3, some 50 armed men attacked Datu Piang's Barangay Poblacion area.

Lieutenant Colonel Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Central, said the attack occurred at around 10:30 p.m. and the group burned a police car.

Government forces had a 35-minute gunfight with the armed group before the rebels fled, Atilano said.

"Ang grupo na 'to ay nabi-belong sa BIFF at Dawlah Islamiya. More or less 50 sila, nahahati sa dalawang grupo. Ang isang grupo nag-attempt na mag-harass doon sa headquarters ng Charlie Company, 6th Infantry Battalion at saka 'yung 30 po nag-attempt na pasukin ang poblacion Datu Piang in the attempt to target the chief of police of Datu Piang... si Police Captain Israel Bayona," Atilano said.

"Sa ating paga-assess sa situation, 'yung ating chief of police ng Datu Piang ay tina-target pala siya nitong armadong grupo na gustong pumasok sa Poblacion Datu Piang," he added.

Atilano said Bayona was on board a police vehicle with his men when they noticed the armed men approaching the area. He said the cops abandoned the vehicle and went to a safe place.

Police initially identified the group as members of the BIFF (a breakaway group of the  Moro Islamic Liberation Front) led by Karialan Saga Animbang and a person identified as "Motorola" with about 50 members.

The PNP on Friday then identified the leaders of the group as Salahudin Hasan, also known as Salah, and Muhiden Animbang Indong, also known as commander Karialan.

Police are set to file criminal complaints against two leaders of the BIFF and several of its members.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces chief General Gilbert Gapay on Friday said the attack was an isolated incident and was far from what happened during the Marawi siege in 2017. —LBG/KG, GMA News