COTABATO CITY – Majority Floor Leader Atty. Lanang T. Ali, Jr of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament had condemned barbaric acts committed against innocent civilians in the Bangsamoro region.

The death of two minor siblings and wounding of 14 more civilians in the mortar shelling in Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao on May 24 during the observance of Eid’l Fitre marking the end of Holy Month of Ramadan, prompted MFL Ali, Jr to issue a statement condemning the incident, and other violent acts against the Moro people. 

“We strongly condemn in strongest terms possible any violent action towards the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” Atty. Ali emphasized. 

“We deplore such an uncivilized action against peaceful communities, and people who have nothing to do with the extreme actions of other group who continue to wage violence against the established authority,” he added. 

Atty. Ali called on the attention of the Philippine National Police, the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission, as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct an absolute and fair investigation of the incident to give justice to the victims. 

He urged local government units as well as the national government security forces to ensure the safety of the civilians.

On the other hand, Bangsamoro communities has been alarmed over the killings of some Moro individuals.

Meanwhile, there are reported series of killing incidents in Maguindanao, General Santos City and M’lang, North Cotabato perpetrated by unknown assailants.  

In a report sent to Luwaran.com by a concerned citizen from a Maguindanao town said that on May 20 at around 9 o’clock in the morning, two members of a Moro Front were hit by mortar shells that killed Abdul Umping Madidis and injured Homidie S. Dali.

On May 26, a Professor of the Mindanao State University (MSU-General Santos City), and a member of the MILF Local Monitoring Team Mohamamad Taha Abdulgafor was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunmen in front of KCC warehouse, Apopong, General Santos City. Adulgafor wife was also wounded and rushed to nearest hospital.

Another Moro was shot and killed by alleged riding-in-tandem in Barangay Manubuan, Matalam, North Cotabato on May 29, at around 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The victim was identified by the Philippine National Police as Nasser D. Matiagal, a worker at CARD Inc.

Commenting of the Bangsamoro Government’s call for investigation of these series of killings, Jokey Solaiman, a member of civil society group commented in a post at Tiyakap Kalilintad social media group, and said that he acknowledged the leadership of the Bangsamoro Government for the condemnation of the killings of civilians mostly the youth, and children.

“We are hopeful that all BARMM agencies should abide by the call of the ICM (Interim Chief Minister) to conduct immediate and impartial investigation of the incidents, file charges, and let the law prevail,” he pointed out. 

“What we understand about impartial is away from influence by any interested group. We should be reminded of an aircraft bombing incident in Barangay Tee that killed most members of a family where the AFP higher echelon was quick to acquit those responsible,” Solaiman stressed further.