Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested an incumbent barangay chairman in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur for his alleged involvement in a 2023 bombing that killed two barangay officials and injured seven others.
CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert AA Morico identified the suspect as the 54-year-old chairman of Barangay Butilen, who was among those charged in connection with the deadly attack in Sharif Saydona, Maguindanao del Sur.
The arrest was carried out on the strength of a warrant issued by a local court. Another accused, a 44-year-old town councilor of Datu Salibo, was the first to be apprehended when the warrant for two counts of murder was released.
“With his arrest, we helped the victims and their families attain the justice they deserved,” said Morico.
The barangay captain was collared in Barangay Kamasi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Nov. 5.
He was listed as Number 7 Regional Most Wanted Person in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Number 3 Municipal Most Wanted Person of Datu Salibo Municipality.
In August 2023, a group of officials from Barangay Pendeten led chairman Jun “Datumanot” Silongan were traversing on foot a trail in an uninhabited farmland in Sitio Patawali, Barangay Ganta, Sharif Saydona town when an explosion occurred.
The bomb attack killed Silongan and barangay councilor Salik Katua. Seven other barangay officials were injured.
The town councilor was tagged as the mastermind and was charged over the incident, with local politics seen as one of the main reasons behind the bomb attack. (Aaron Recuenco)
