Manhunt Underway After Ambush Kills Mayor’s Brother
MIDSAYAP, Cotabato – Authorities have launched a manhunt for two gunmen on a motorcycle who ambushed and fatally shot the brother of a town mayor in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) early Thursday morning.
The Midsayap police, led by Lt. Colonel Benhur Catcatan, identified the victim as Dhen Mascud, 54, chief security officer of Kadayangan municipality in BARMM’s Special Geographic Area (SGA). The police confirmed the incident occurred around 7 a.m. when two men riding a motorbike opened fire.
Details of the Ambush Incident
Dhen Mascud, younger brother of Kadayangan Mayor Datu Duma Mascud, was driving a mini-van with his wife, Anisa, when the assailants attacked. He was struck in the head and body, resulting in his death at the scene. His wife and two other passengers were also wounded and are receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Investigators have yet to identify the shooters or determine their motive. However, relatives suggest the attack is linked to an ongoing “rido” or family feud between the Mascud family and another Moro household in Kadayangan town.
Context and Background of the Shooting
This ambush marks the third shooting incident in Midsayap within nine days, raising concerns about escalating violence in the area. Notably, Dhen Mascud was also known as a field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which adds a complex layer to the case.
Kadayangan is one of eight municipalities in BARMM’s Special Geographic Area, created after the 2019 plebiscite that incorporated several Cotabato villages into the expanded autonomous region. These SGA towns were formed from 63 Moro-majority villages originally belonging to municipalities including Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, Aleosan, Midsayap, and Pigcawayan in Cotabato province.
Local leaders and sources continue to monitor the situation closely as the police intensify their search for the gunmen. The community remains on edge amid the unresolved family feud and ongoing violence.
For more news and updates on BARMM violence, visit Filipinokami.com.
