Marawi City Chief of Police released from the captivity of MILF

LAKE VIEW OF MARAWI CITY

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR (December 6, 2013) – The Moro Islamic Libertion Front (MILF) had released City Police Chief of the Islamic City of Marawi in Mindanao 12 hours after his captivity following the negotiation headed by Col. Glenn Macasero, Task Force Ranaw Commander and at the same time Commanding Officer of 103^rd Brigade of the 1^st Infantry (Tabak) Division based in Marawi City.

It was recalled that at about 12:10 Midnight on December 6, 2013 at least 50 heavily armed MILF Group utilized water craft infiltrated the Islamic City of Marawi and successfully attacked City Police Station and rescued their 2 MILF members detained at the police lock-up cell which is located some 150 meters away from the coastal area of lake Lanao.

The MILF hostage the City Police Chief of Marawi during their withdrawal boarded the same water craft and fled toward Balindong Island.    

The successful safety released of P/Supt Christopher Panapan was made possible thru the effort also from the officials of 51^st Infantry Battalion of the 103^rd Brigade, and Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office together with the help Balindong Vice Mayor Edris Manalucon, and some members of Lanao del Sur Council of the Elders, Col. Macasero said.

P/Supt Panapan is now at the custody of Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office in Marawi City for proper disposition and debriefing.  

Earlier, Army’s Premier Tabak Division spokesperson Capt. Jefferson Somera of Division Public Affairs Office said that the military did not mobilize its military forces against perpetrators. Instead, they had filed a formal complaint to Osama Ali and James Macaraya both members of MILF Ad hoc Joint Action Group (AJAG) Team 2 based in Lanao del Sur and to the Ceasefire Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) against the MILF regarding the violations of Ceasefire and the ongoing peace talk committed by their ground commanders and demanded the immediate release of PSupt Panapan.

                                                                          

Prior to their attacked to the City Police Station, the MILF Group cut-off the power line of the vicinity. The civilian identified only as the brother in law of City Police Chief was shot to death by said armed group after showing resistance.

The MILF Group led by Commander Toni Datu Aka Repors and Jimmy Radja Muda of Nusa Command based in Balindong Island, Lanao del Sur was confirmed by MILF higher official who is member of Peace Panel Mohager Iqbal as the responsible of the attacked.

Police record shows, the 2 MILF rescued was identified as Mesron Mauntol Borodan and Joani Abuat Cader. Both were arrested by the Police operatives on October 30, 2013 and have pending criminal case in court for violation of illegal possession of firearms.