Maguindanao 2nd District Representative Esmael Mangudadatu. (Photo courtesy of NDBC Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY – Seven Mindanao lawmakers have joined the call for a House probe on the Aug. 29 killing of nine farmers in Kabacan, North Cotabato.
In a statement on Friday, Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, of the second district of Maguindanao, said he has joined hands with Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, Anak Mindanao Party-list Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, Rep. Munir Arbison, Rep. Rashidin Matba, and Rep. Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Adiong in calling for a deeper investigation on the incident.
The seven lawmakers presented House Resolution No. 1183 filed on Sept. 2, directing the House’s Committee on Public Order and Safety, and the Committee on Muslim Affairs to conduct a joint inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged involvement of policemen in the killing of the nine Moros – including two minors.
“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,” Mangudadatu said in a statement.
Mangudadatu also called for a different and independent agency to look into the incident. Initial investigation disclosed that a group of identified gunmen opened fire at the victims using high-powered firearms instantly killing eight of the victims while the ninth expired in the hospital.
“The incident is truly heartbreaking. It also is bothersome to mention that policemen are the alleged suspects in the incident,” Mangudadatu said.
Relatives of Guiaman claimed they received a call from him prior to his death, mentioning that they were flagged down by policemen along the road.
If proven, Mangudadatu said that 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 worse,” he said.
Mangudadatu also floated the possibility that police officers 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 solon said.
Mangudadatu lost his wife and two sisters along with 55 others in the infamous Maguindanao massacre incident on Nov. 23, 2009, where out of the 197 suspects, 52 were policemen - 19 were found guilty while 33 were acquitted. (PNA)
