Violence in Maguindanao must be addressed, says solon
Law enforcers must jointly address the "mounting level of violence" in Maguindanao, Congressman Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said on Tuesday.
“I am appealing to the provincial authorities and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to join forces for the immediate reduction, if not eradication, of violence in Maguindanao so that our province will gain stability and safeguards for our constituents,” said Mangudadatu, who represents the province's second district.
He specifically directed his call to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 12, Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), and the AFP Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom).
Mangudadatu, chairman of the House Committee on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, is bothered by what he personally described as the "spate of violence" that has rocked his home province, the latest of which is the botched assassination attempt on South Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular and several relief workers last Sunday.
Mayor Insular, along with members of the South Upi Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), had just finished relief aid operation for displaced families in Barangay Itaw when gunmen opened fire on their vehicles.
The displaced families whom Insular and his team were helping belonged to the Teduray Tribe. The solon said they were forced to flee their homes after the gunmen also opened fire and then burned their houses on New Year’s Day.
“We have seen a big increase in the number of deadly incidents against civilians who have lost lives, limbs, livelihood, and their houses in the process," Mangudadatu said.
"Napapanahon na para magkaroon ng mas malalim na pagtingin at pag-iimbestiga sa mga kasong ito, gaya umano sa ginagawang panggigipit sa ating mga kapatid na katutubo dahil pilit na inaagaw ang kanilang lupa o ancestral domain (It's about time that a thorough investigation is conducted on this, as well as the alleged harassment of natives whose lands or ancestral domain are being forcibly taken)," he said.
He also called on the Bangsamoro government to look into the issue and create a swift solution to the incidents of violence that have been negatively affecting the plight of Indigenous Peoples' communities in the province.
"The peace and order situation in Maguindanao is a far-cry from what it used to be years ago. It has now become a bedrock of insurgencies, deaths, and terroristic acts. The constituents of the province need to be protected now more than ever," Mangudadatu said.