By Taj Basman
COTABATO CITY – Abdulgani Mantil, a Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) officer was arrested in a COMELEC checkpoint setup by Cotabato Police Provincial Office near Pigcawayan on Monday.
According to Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Maximo Layugan, Mantil is wanted for separate cases of murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder.
“He is also a suspect in the December 2007 Kidapawan bombing,” he added.
In an interview, Von Alhaq, BIAF spokesperson, said that Mantil is an officer of BIAF and was about to go to Camp Darapanan to attend an assembly with other officers of the group.
“Kasali sana siya sa assembly ngayon,” said Alhaq. “Through our counterpart in the government, the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), our ceasefire committee filed a protest and requested na palayain na siya nila ngayon.”
Layugan said they will have to wait for directives from higher authorities before they release Mantil.
“We are just implementing the law, meron naman tayong CCCH at sila ang magusap,” he said.
