Friday, October 12, 2007 Mayor's brod killed in ambush laid to rest
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Relatives of Dimsard Macasarte, elder brother of Banisilan Mayor Jennifer Macasarte-Macalingcag, was finally laid to his rest on Wednesday in the town's public cemetery.
Dimsard, 47, who used to head the town's General Services Office, was killed in an ambush on September 26 in a remote sitio in Barangay Poblacion in Banisilan.
Municipal administrator Allan Macasarte said justice has been elusive to his dead brother.
"We cry for justice. My brother's death is a big loss to us," he said.
Days before the funeral, Senior Superintendent Lester Camba, North Cotabato police director, ordered the deployment of additional troops in Banisilan.
Reports reaching Camba's office said Macasarte's perceived political foes are planning to stage retaliatory attacks against them.
A day before the funeral, gunmen fired at farm workers of the Macasartes while they were harvesting palay. Nobody was hurt, according to Allan Macasarte.
Dimsard was believed killed by an armed group led by a certain Commander Palau, who, according to reports, is connected to an influential politician in Banisilan.
He was on his way to a remote sitio in Barangay Poblacion onboard a backhoe when some 20 armed men ambushed him along the highway.
Two of Dimsard's co-workers were able to escape unhurt from the attack, said Banisilan police chief Inspector Samuel Cadungon.
Cadungon, citing witnesses as sources, said that Palau, an Iranun who is believed engaged in cattle rustling and other illegal activities in Banisilan, led the attack.
"In fact, we pursued Palau's group a few minutes after they ambushed Dimsard and his men," said Cadungon. (Malu Cadelina Manar)
