KIDAPAWAN CITY – Gunmen shot dead the son of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader and wounded six others in a daring attack at Purok Tagumpay-Dos, Barangay Kilada in Matalam, North Cotabato around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a police official said.
Police Captain Junrel Amutan, chief of the Matalam municipal police station, identified the slain victim as Norodin Sulayman Ali Ambil, who was also a councilor of Barangay Kilada, Matalam.
One of those wounded in the attack was identified as Rowena de Leon, chairman of Barangay Kilada and live-in partner of Kagawad Ambil.
De Leon, according to reports, was critically wounded.
Others wounded were Romeo Datu Ali Ambil, 54, kagawad of Barangay Kilada; Robert Datu Ali Ambil, 25; Alipin Onotin Ambil, 25; Datu Mauro Ambil Matalam, 15; and Hamarodin Datu Ali Indao, 17, all residents of Barangay Kilada.
Reports from the police intelligence unit said Ambil was also the deputy chair of the MNLF Sebangan Kutawato State Revolutionary Committee (SKSRC). His father, Datu Dima Ambil, is chair of the MNLF-SKSRC based in Barangay Kilada, Matalam.
The chief of police said Ambil was driving his Isuzu D’Max pickup truck on way to his village when unidentified men with high-powered guns pumped bullets into his head, killing him instantly.
One of the bullets hit De Leon who was seated next to the kagawad.
Ambil’s truck hit a tree few meters away from the paved road.
Those onboard the truck sustained injuries both from the shooting incident and vehicular crash, reports said.
Amutan said they have yet to find out if the attack was part of a “rido” or clan war with another Moro family due to a long standing land feud.
A year ago, reports said the rido between the Ambil clan and another Moro family led by a certain Naig Naga and Michael Imbong — both members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), was already settled by leaders in the community.
The latest attack against Ambil clan caused the displacement of at least 174 families from three puroks of Barangay Kilada.
A hundred families from nearby villages sought temporary shelter at Barangay Marbel in Kidapawan City. (Malu Cadelina Manar)