KIDAPAWAN CITY – Authorities are looking at work as the strongest motive in the killing last Friday of a Commission on Audit-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao auditor in Cotabato City.
Police Col. Portia Manalad, Cotabato City police director, said that based on their initial investigation, the killing of 60-year-old Quiara Bagundang-Akmad has something to do with her job as a CoA-BARMM auditor assigned to Maguindanao.
Manalad, however, refused to give additional details.
Akmad, according to reports from the Cotabato City Police Office, was on board a white car driven by her husband and was about to exit the City Mall car park on Avelina St., Barangay Rosary Heights 7 at about 11 a.m. when a man waiting nearby appeared.
The suspect, police said, confirmed his target and opened fire at the victim then fled.
Akmad’s husband – a former police officer assigned to the now defunct Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – returned fire but it was not clear if he was able to hit the gunman.
Her husband immediately rushed her to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center where he was declared dead.
Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu strongly condemned yesterday the “treacherous” killing of Akmad.
He described her as “a person of principle and integrity.”
“Quiara Akmad is a gentle woman who works as an auditor for the Commission on Audit at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. She is a person of principle and integrity whose dedication and love for her family and work is beyond question,” Mangudadatu said. “Her demise is a strong indication that the rise of violence and disorder is upon Maguindanao,” Mangudadatu added.
“May the wrath of the Almighty Allah be at the heels of those who have the blood of Akmad in their hands,” Mangudadatu said. (Malu Cadelina Manar and Charissa L. Atienza)