Joint Ceasefire Committee from the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front led by Chairman Butch Malang of MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Chairman Anwar Alamada of MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and Dave Jungco from the GPH-CCCH together with other members and staff, met with Municipal Mayor Sumulong Sultan of Pikit, North Cotabato on 29 December 2021 to discuss the recent law enforcement operation conducted by the composite team of Police Regional Office -12 with Law Enforcement Support from 602nd Brigade, 6th ID, PA to serve Warrant of Arrest due for murder case against a certain Hasan Maula in a remote part of Brgy. Gukotan of the said municipality.

At around 2:00am of 29 December 2021, the leading operatives from the PRO 12 together with forces from 602nd Brigade, 6ID arrived at the vicinity of the Brgy. Gukotan. Heavy gunfires were heard at around 4:00am which lasted for about 2 hours.

This assault resulted to six (6) fatalities and one (1) wounded identified as follows: Ustads Badrudin Dalid (64 y/o, member of 108th BC), Mujahid Hamsa (38 y/o, member of 128th BC), Abdulkahar Masulut (42 y/o) and Sharif Kabunto (18 y/o) members of 129th BC, all of BIAF-MILF; and Arbaya Dalid (31 y/o), a mother of three and also a student, who all died due to gunshots. Also, Hairon Timan (17 y/o) got wounded in this operation.

Another fatality was the Bde Cmdr of 129th BC, BIAF-MILF namely Abdul "Piraw" Macagpa who died due to drowning in the nearby river while carrying his firearms after receiving an instruction from his base commander to reposition their forces from the concerned areas. 

Three (3) more civilians were accused as members of the suspected group and arrested by the operatives namely Rahib Dalid (31yrs old, married), Samrah Tumalao (18yrs old, married), and Mohidin Dalagunan Mantok (47yrs old and member of 129th BC, BIAF-MILF). These personalities were turned-over by the operatives to Pikit Municipal Police Station. 

Assorted high-powered firearms, ammunitions, and other properties were also seized from the different households in the area. Moreover, there were also four (4) wounded men from the GPH Operating Units. However, the high-valued target was able to escape from the operatives.

Brgy. Gukotan of Pikit is one of the 63 Barangays which are now under the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. It is also dominated by MILF communities.

The Joint GPH-MILF Ceasefire Committee, in cooperation with LGU Pikit facilitated the retrieval of the cadavers from the operating units and pacified the tension in the said barangay. As mandated, the Joint Ceasefire Committee will work closely on the verification procedures whether ceasefire protocols are carefully adhered by the Government operatives prior to the conduct of this LEO.

However, during the initial visit, it was verified through the Joint GPH-MILF Ceasefire Mechanisms that PRO 12 Regional Director PBGen Alexander Tagum confirms that the operation is legitimate but failed to adhere the Ceasefire Protocols of the Peace Process.