COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro Government sent a delegation for the initial investigation of the recent untoward incident in Gokotan village, Special Geographic Area (SGA) on Jan. 6. 2022.
Accordingly, a police operation was conducted in the said areas on Dec. 29, 2021 to arrest car theft syndicate leader Maulana Manampan, who was able to escape. The firefight lasted for hours that resulted in the death of six (6) individuals and wounding of three (3) policemen and a resident.
The area is under the control of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but the operation was said to be “not properly coordinated.”
Investigators and lawyers from Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) and Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), and some personnel from the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) went down the area to probe the incident.
“Inutusan kami nina Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim at Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua na magtungo dito. Nalulungkot ang pamunuan ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at ng BARMM sa nangyaring ito […] kaya, sa abot ng ating makakaya ay gagawin natin lahat ng paraan [by all means] upang makamit natin ang hustisya para sa mga biktima,” Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua’s representative, Ahmad Brahim, said.
Meanwhile, BHRC Chairperson Atty. Abdulrashid P. Kalim urged the residents and families of the victims to cooperate in advancing in achieving justice for the deceased victims.
“Andyan ang MILF at Bangsamoro Government na magtatanggol sa inyo, sa abot na aming makakaya. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan,” Kalim said.
The team provided cash assistance to each of the bereaved families worth Php20,000.00. Php10,000.00 was also handed over to the injured woman.
The OCM-Clinic also gave medical assistance to the affected residents. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
