Friday, September 28, 2007 Banisilan mayor's brother killed in ambush By Malu Cadelina Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A former policeman who lost in the 2004 mayoral elections in North Cotabato was killed in an ambush staged by some 20 armed men in a remote village in Banisilan town in North Cotabato at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Killed was Dimsard Macasarte, alias Boy, 47, elder brother of Banisilan Mayor Jennifer Macasarte-Macalingcag and an employee at the municipal government.
According to the victim’s younger sister Shirlyn Macasarte, a former member of the Provincial Board of North Cotabato, his brother was on his way to a remote sitio in Barangay Poblacion onboard a backhoe when attacked by armed men.
Two of Dimsard's co-workers were able to escape unhurt from the attack, said Banisilan Police Chief Samuel Cadungon.
Cadungon, quoting witnesses, said that Kumander Palau, an Iranun believed to be engaged in cattle rustling and other illegal activities in Banisilan, led the attack.
"In fact, we launched pursuit operation against Palau's group a few minutes after they ambushed Dimsard and his men," said Cadungon.
Two weeks before the attack, Shirlyn said, his brother told her and Mayor Jennifer to be always on guard as he received information that a group is out to attack them anytime.
"I never thought my brother was also included in those death threats," said Shirlyn.
Reports from a police intelligence officer in North Cotabato said that few hours after the attack, the group of Commander Faron, leader of another armed group operating in Banisilan, torched houses in nearby village where the headquarters of Palau and his group are located.
Faron's group also set on fire the warehouse owned by Banisilan Vice-Mayor Cesar Paredes, brother-in-law of former Banisilan mayor Floro Allado.
Faron, a former rebel commander, according to reports, is a supporter of the Macasarte family.
The Allados and Macasartes are political rivals.
The ambush of Dimsard was the second violent incident believed to be related to politics that happened in North Cotabato since last week.
On September 19, former Pagalungan vice-mayor Datu Norodin Matalam and his wife were injured when his group clashed with a group of armed men along the Carmen-Bukidnon highway. Ten persons, including Matalam's driver and a relative, were killed during the bloody clash.
