DAVAO CITY —- Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Municipal Samdudin Utto Dimaukom and his nine bodyguards were killed in an alleged shootout early morning October 28, in Old Bulatukan, Makilala, North Cotabato.
Other fatalities were identified as Suad Adam Guimad 24 (single); Mubarak Ali Pasagui 26 (married); Fajad Dimananal 25 ( married/driver ); Naasrudin Alon 28 (blue guard/married); Elmer Ali 20 (single-photographer); Alladin Guimad 35 (LGU staff/married); Fajir Madi 38 (LGU staff/married); Basir Ismael Mindog 25 (blueguard/single); Haimen Anuard 23 (blueguard/single)–all residents of Datu Saudi, Maguindanao.
The victims were identified by Badrudin Carinda–LGU staff of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
The Mindanao Anti-Illegal Drugs unit led by Maj. Jovit Culaway was conducting a mobile checkpoint along Old Bulatukan in Makilala, North Cotabato, they flagged down’s the convoy of the mayor but instead of stopping, the vehicles ignored the authorities and immediately opened fire with the operatives which resulted to a shootout.
Culaway, chief of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit-Mindanao told this reporter “we were tipped off that the group will transport illegal drugs to Maguindanao and Cotabato, kaya kami nag checkpoint (a reason why we put up a checkpoint).”
The convoy of Dimaukom passed the area at 4:30 in the morning, but instead of stopping Culaway revealed “nag-slowdown lang sila at na-open ang door at nag open fire na sila, di nila alam naka position na kami, we were about 30 lahat, kasi 16 kami sa unit namin and we asked for support from the regional public safety battalion kasi kung kami lang, hindi talaga namin kakayanin yon kasi high powered lahat ang baril at marami sila.
(instead of stopping, they just slowed down and the door opened –they fired on us, they did not know we already positioned ourselves, we were about 30, 16 from my unit and the rest were from the Regional Public Safety Battalion, we need re-enforcement, we cannot do it alone because they have high powered firearms and they are too many) .’
On September 27, the police raided Dimaukom’s compound in Datu Saudi town but did not find illegal drugs.
The Mahindra police patrol which escorted the Mayor’s convoy was partially damaged as the first gun burst from the grandia van hit the vehicle, according to Culaway.
Culaway said Dimaukom was aboard the Grandia van while some of his bodyguards were aboard his land cruiser.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph
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