Bangsamoro legislators push for joint probe into Kabacan 'massacre'

COTABATO CITY —Bangsamoro members of the House of Representatives have banded together to call for a joint inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the killing of nine Muslim farmers in Kabacan, North Cotabato on August 29, 2020.

Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangundadatu, one of the seven Muslim legislators who introduced House Resolution No. 1183  filed it on  September 2.

HR 1183 directs he Committee on Public Order and Safety and Committee on Muslim Affairs  to conduct a joint inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged involvement of policemen in the massacre of the nine Moros –including two minors.

The other six Bangsamoro representatives who push for HR 1183 include: Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, AMin Party-list Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, Rep. Munir Arbison, Rep. Rashidin Matba, and Rep. Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Adiong. 

“The recurrence of reports of alleged illegal practices committed by the law enforcement agencies especially affecting the Muslim population has become alarming, leading the people to believe that these are systematic and institutional failures, requiring a comprehensive review of the existing criminal justice system and law enforcement procedures and protocols being implemented in the country”, part of the joint resolution.

“We are truly heartbroken and outraged with the death of the farmers who were reportedly ordered to alight from their motorcycles while traversing the road along Aringay Road proximate to the University of Southern Mindanao campus,” said Rep. Mangudadatu.

Police investigation revealed that the suspects flagged down the victims who were on motorcycle, and opened fire with high-powered firearms, instantly killing eight of the Moros, while the ninth died in the hospital hours later after the attack. 

Some witnesses said that before the killing, the suspects demanded the victims' IDs.

Mangudadatu also calls for an independent agency to look into the incident.

“Ako ay personal na nananawagan na magkaroon ng agaran at masusing imbestigasyon sa kasong ito. Tunay na napakasakit sa mga naulilang pamilya ang ganitong trahedya. Mas nakakalungkot at nakakabahala pa kung mapapatunayang mga pulis nga ang nasa likod ng krimen,” said the legislator from the 2nd District of Maguindanao.

If suspicions of police involvement are proven right, Mangudadatu added, "it will indeed be a troubling fact that the foremost institution mandated to protect the sanctity of life and the keepers of peace and security are the purveyors of violence and killings."

"It is about time that we closely evaluate this before matters take a turn for the worst,” he said.

Mangudadatu also "information" that police enforcers, as well as military officials, are also being used by politicians either willingly or unsuspectingly to carry out hatchet jobs and to engage in illegal activities and collusion.

“As legislators, let us also find ways to end the stigma where policemen are called ‘criminals in uniform’. I believe that a good number of law enforcers are willing to join this cause and are willing to uplift and restore respect to their insignia,” the lawmaker said.

Mangundadatu lost his wife and two sisters along with 55 others in the infamous  November 23, 2009 Maguindanao Massacre in which out of the 197 suspects, 52 were policemen, 19 of them are found guilty while 33 were acquitted.

The 58 victims, including innocent motorists, were kidnapped and killed in that massacre 11 years ago, when Mangudadatu's wife and his sisters, with some members of the media,  were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, then vice mayor of Buluan town. —LBG, GMA News