(Courtesy of PRO-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Police authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) created Wednesday a special body to probe the recent murder of a councilor in Datu Salibo town, Maguindanao del Sur province.
Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, BARMM police regional director, said he activated the regional-level Special Investigation Task Group to look into the shooting of municipal councilor Demson Dagloc Silongan on Monday.
Silongan, 50, was shot by a gunman as his vehicle arrived at the municipal government compound. He died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.
His driver, Jam Madzig, was injured and is undergoing medication.
Col. Ruel Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police provincial director, said no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
“He has no known enemies, according to his brother who is a village chairperson,” Sermese said in a radio interview.
“Manhunt is continuing,” he added.
Nobleza said Silongan was the latest elected government official (EGO) who fell victim to gun attacks in the BARMM from January to April 17 this year.
He said 13 EGOs have been listed as victims of harassment and murders across the region.
Of the 13 cases, six were cleared or suspects were charged but remained at large while one case was solved with the primary suspect charged and in police custody. Six other cases are under investigation.
Nobleza has directed all police field units to increase intelligence gathering, tighten up monitoring of political hotspots, and set up more checkpoints to deter lawless elements from engaging in all forms of criminality. (PNA)
