Sulu governor calls on people not to panic after deadly clashes

A provincial government photo shows Governor Sakur Tan reading Monday, June 26, 2023 a document while Maimbung Mayor Shihla Hayudini (left) and other staff look on.

SULU – Sulu Governor Sakur Tan on Monday has called on the public not to panic following the weekend fighting between a fugitive ex-vice mayor of Maimbung town and members of the security forces that killed at least 2 persons and wounded 14 more in the southern Philippine province.

Former politician Pando Mudjasan and his followers clashed with policemen and soldiers on Saturday, June 24, after security forces were trying to serve an arrest warrant and to search his house in the village of Bualo Lipid for illegal weapons.

 

“I call on the people of Maimbung, in particular the innocent residents of Bualo not to unduly panic. The authorities are in full control of the situation,” Tan said.

 

Mudjasan, a member of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), is facing murder charges, according to national police chief, General Benjamin Acorda Jr.

 

“The incident in Bualo, Maimbung last Saturday, 24 June 2023, has captured the attention of many news outlets and social media. I do admit that some are straight and factual while some are laced with fiction. The incident was a legitimate police operation, that is, to serve outstanding warrants against an erring former vice mayor of Maimbung. He is now considered a fugitive from the law,” Tan said.

 

He said the social media platform should not be an instrument to sow more confusion that will compound the concerns of the people in the affected community and the municipality as a whole. “To act with impunity and to challenge the enforcers from exercising their mandates, resulting in the displacements of innocent civilians and the loss of lives and others, is the height of defiance against authority and the power of the state. His defiance has no legal or moral basis to stand on. The affected community is not the right forum for him to defend himself against the charges filed against him. The court is,” Tan said.

 

Tan also called on the MNLF which signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996 to issue a statement, saying Pando’s “audacity to drag the MNLF to his side for his crime - that is his alone - smells of a veiled threat to escalate the situation. I call on the MNLF to issue a statement on this matter.” “Let the rule of law prevail,” he added.

Acorda said government forces were not able to arrest Mudjasan because he was alerted at the early start of the daylong clashes that killed a police commando – Pat. Regim Gacod, of the 7^th Special Action Battalion - and wounded 13 other policemen and an army soldier while trying to serve the warrants issued by the court. 

He identified the wounded policemen as Cpt. Ergie Wanawan, Cpls. Nelvin Roble, Butz Lenard  Bakidan, Jayson Cabalquinto, Alnadzmi Sahirani, Jerwin Tongala, John Lord Paasa, Simon Ligmayo and Vileo Raven Jariolne; and SSgs Julakbar Jahani and Jadier Alfad; Pats. Jasper Massagan and Jason D Dacio; and a soldier who is a member of the 41^st Infantry Battalion.

“A fierce firefight broke out between government forces and armed men at Bualo Lipid in Maimbung. The operation was carried out to serve a warrant of arrest for the crime of murder and implement a search warrant against Mudjasan and his associates. Mudjasan is reported to be employing armed civilians and keeping in his possession loose firearms and explosives,” Acorda said, adding the fierce fighting lasted 10 hours – from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

There were persistent reports that some of Mudjasan’s gunmen were former MNLF rebels which explained the firepower of his group in battling security forces. The fighting forced over 5,000 people to flee their homes, many of them are now in temporary shelters and are being taken care of by municipal social workers led by Mayor Shihla Hayudini.

Acorda commended members of over a dozen police and military units involved in the operations and said the police remain steadfast in its commitment to protect and serve the Filipino people and will continue to enhance its operational capabilities to go after private armed groups. 

“I commend the valor and dedication displayed by our law enforcement personnel who participated in the operations. Despite the inherent risks involved, they fearlessly carried out their duty to serve and protect our communities. Their commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining peace and order is truly admirable. The PNP will use all our assets and forces to hunt down those people who are involved and we will not stop until they are behind bars,” he said.

It was unknown whether Mudjasan had sought safe refuge on any of the MNLF territories in the Muslim province or managed to escape from Sulu by boat. The military’s Western Mindanao Command has not issued an official statement as of press time. The fighting broke out just as Sulu is enjoying an improved peace and order situation and a boom in tourism the past years. (Mindanao Examiner)