This image is AI-generated to depict the situation.
DAVAO CITY — Still unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed a Moro mother, her three-month-old daughter, and their driver in Barangay Mileb, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur, on Thursday, December 12.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, confirmed the fatalities as Harrah Jinn Utto Lumenda Basalo, her child, and their driver, Nunokan Manalindo. All three died from multiple gunshot wounds sustained during the attack, according to a report from the Radjah Buayan Municipal Police Station.
The victims were traveling in a minivan, driven by Manalindo, when gunmen opened fire on a remote stretch of highway in Barangay Mileb.
The minivan veered off the road, hitting a tree after Manalindo lost control of the vehicle due to gunshot wounds to his head.
Relatives revealed that Basalo’s husband is a member of an Army unit stationed in Maguindanao del Sur. Investigators are exploring this connection as a possible motive for the attack.
Brig. Gen. Macapaz stated that officials from the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office and local executives are actively cooperating to identify the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution. Authorities suspect the ambush could be linked to local clan feuds or disputes over political and territorial control.
Moro clans in Radjah Buayan have long been embroiled in violent conflicts triggered by political differences, land disputes, and affronts to family pride and honor. These feuds often escalate into deadly confrontations.
The victim’s family cries for justice for the death of their loved ones.
Heavily armed groups associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have been involved in recent clashes in remote areas of Radjah Buayan.
These confrontations, often over territorial control, have displaced innocent villagers and contributed to the region’s instability. While the MILF leadership has repeatedly disavowed involvement in such incidents, the group’s splinter factions remain active in the area, complicating peace efforts.
The ambush manifest the persistent challenges faced by Maguindanao del Sur in maintaining peace and security. innocent civilians, including women and children, continue to bear the brunt of violence stemming from long-standing feuds and unresolved political tensions.
Authorities are urging witnesses to come forward with information to expedite the resolution of the case and provide justice for the victims and their families. Meanwhile, security measures have been tightened in the municipality to prevent further violence and protect residents from similar attacks.
