COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 29 May) – Thong Mamasalanao Asim, a 56-year-old councilor reelected in the May 12 elections and a member of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), was gunned down in Barangay Poblacion, Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital around 3 p.m. Wednesday. Witnesses described the lone gunman as wearing black shorts, a black jacket, and glasses. The assailant fled toward an unknown direction after the attack. Investigators found seven bullet casings, believed to be from a .45 caliber firearm, and two deformed bullets at the crime scene. Ustadz Hisham Nando, UBJP Maguindanao chief executive officer and the vice governor-elect, condemned the killing, calling it cowardly and urging a deeper investigation. The UBJP, the political party of the MILF, emphasized that such acts have no place in society. Police have yet to determine the motive behind the crime. In a separate incident, Esmael Lindongan Manap, a barangay kagawad of Malingao, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, and his son Arham were abducted at their residence on May 27 but were returned home on Wednesday. They sustained bruises from being beaten by their abductors, suspected to be members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the MILF 118th Base Command. Reports by Climate Conflict Action Asia highlighted widespread election-related coercion and disruptions in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and Sulu. Sulu was excluded from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following a Supreme Court decision, as it voted “No” in the 2019 plebiscite. Security consultant Dickson Hermoso noted incidents of intimidation and show of force during the midterm elections. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)
