COTABATO CITY – The mayor of Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Wednesday, Aug. 31, condemned the killing of the municipal police chief and his escort by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters Tuesday, Aug. 30.
According to Ampatuan Mayor Baileah Sangki, the death of Police Lt. Reynaldo Samson was a big loss on the part of the municipal government.
Sangki said Samson had a pro-active anti-criminality campaign which resulted in the arrest of notorious criminals and law violators in the municipality.
“The police chief had sternly implemented traffic rules which deterred erring and abusive motorcycle drivers and lessened motorcycle accidents in our locality,” Sangki said.
She said the anti-criminality campaign launched by the local police under the stewardship of Samson led to the stability of peace and order in the town.
Samson and his driver, Police Corporal Salipuddin Endab, were ambushed in Barangay Kapinpilan by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) rebels led by Guipar Abdulkarim
Three other policemen were wounded during the attack.
Samson's remains have been taken to Camp SK Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao. Endab's body was immediately buried per Muslim tradition.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos and Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Rodolfo Azurin have seen Samson's remains.
Abalos and Azurin visited the three wounded policemen and they were awarded medals.