GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Department of Justice has claimed to have established an airtight case against the suspected members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who were tagged as responsible in the ambush-slaying of policemen in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur on June 14.
Police have filed murder charges before the provincial prosecutor’s office against BIFF leader Esmael Abdulmalik, alias “Abu Turaife,” and 15 of his followers in connection with the ambush-slay of two policemen and the wounding of four others in Barangay Poblacion while the victims were on board a patrol vehicle on their way to the police provincial headquarters.
The attack resulted in the death of Police Patrolmen Saipoden S. Macacuna and Bryan Dalao Polayagan and wounding of Police Chief Master Sgt. Rey Vincent B. Gertos, Police Staff Sgt. Benjie R. delos Reyes, and Police Patrolmen Abdulgafor H. Alib and Arjie Val Loie C. Pabinguit, who are all members of the Police Provincial Mobile Force Company.
Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Prosecutor Mohammad Mon-em Abangad said the evidence against the suspects are
strong enough to warrant the conduct of the preliminary investigation to establish probable cause before the filing of the case in court.
“The prosecutors and the police investigators have been working closely to gather all the necessary evidence needed to indict the suspects,” Abangad told reporters during the orientation on the DOJ memorandum circular which aims to strengthen the collaboration of the prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of heinous crimes, illegal drug and anti-terrorism cases.
The two-day orientation seminar on DOJ Circular No. 20 at Greenleaf Hotel in this city was attended by police chiefs and investigators from the 24 municipal police stations of Maguindanao del Sur.
Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu and Vice Gov. Nathaniel Midtimbang graced the event and thanked the DOJ for organizing the seminar aimed at capacitating the local police on investigating criminal cases that could stand to trial and conviction of the suspects.
Abangad said the ambush-slaying of the policemen will serve as a test case which requires a strong collaboration and coordination between the police and the prosecutors in prosecuting suspected local terrorists involved in terror attacks.
Police said the attack was carried out to avenge the killing of alleged ISIS emir Abu Zacaria who was slain during a law enforcement operation in Marawi City on June 12.
Police Col. Joel Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, condemned the attack on his men as he sought for the slain policemen.
The Islamic State-inspired BIFF local terrorist group was blamed for the spate of bomb attacks and killing of government targets in Central Mindanao the past years.
Government forces have launched manhunt operations against Abu Turaife and his men who are believed to be hiding in Liguasan Marsh.