Ex-Sulu town vice mayor Pando Mudjasan ‘fully armed, very dangerous’ —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is considering former Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan as “fully armed and very dangerous” following last weekend's clash that left five people dead.

“Yes, obviously [he si fully armed and very dangerous],” PNP public information office chief Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan  told GMA News Online in a message.

A report by GMA Integrated News' Jun Veneracion on GTV’s Balitanghali quoted Maranan as saying up to 6,000 evacuees in Sulu were advised not to return to their houses due to the possibility of more encounters.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Andrew Linao told reporters some residents were scared of the encounter.

“Nananawagan tayo na maging mahinahon lang (We are advising then to be calm),” he said.

When there is a firefight, Linao said the Army, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office as well as the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are there to assist affected residents.

According to the police, a firefight broke out between state forces and an undetermined number of armed men on Saturday as authorities served arrest warrant and search warrant to Mudjasan and his supporters.

The PNP said the arrest warrant for Mudjasan is for a murder case while the search warrant is for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The clash resulted in five fatalities: one from the PNP side and four from Mudjasan’s side.

Brigadier General Eugenio Boquio, commander of 1101st Infantry Brigade, said six Special Action Force members, four PNP personnel, one 41st Infantry Battalion member, two civilians, and two people from Mudjasan’s side were wounded.

Boquio told reporters that authorities are now pursuing around 50 armed men.

The clash resulted in five fatalities: one from the PNP side and four from Mudjasan’s side. A soldier and two policemen were wounded.

Brigadier General Eugenio Boquio, commander of 1101st Infantry Brigade, told reporters that authorities are now pursuing around 50 armed men.

Mudjasan was an alleged leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a former rebel group that has since signed a peace agreement with the government.

“We are coordinating and talking right now with our MNLF counterpart to help us also to pacify the situation,” Linao told Balitanghali in an interview.

Linao called the situation an isolated case and pointed out that the camp of Mudjasan is considered as a threat group like the rebel group Abu Sayyaf

“Isolated case naman ito kaya hindi naman siya threat group based yung kagaya sa Abu Sayyaf. So more on ano ito yung support to law enforcement namin na support sa PNP,” he said.

(This is an isolated case so this situation is not threat group-based like the Abu Sayyaf. So our effort is more about support to the law enforcement of the PNP.

Checkpoints have been placed in the area to avoid possible reinforcements from Mudjasan. —Joviland Rita/KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News