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Sunday, January 15, 2006
Military suspects rebels behind sultan's slay
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Military authorities suspect that a Muslim extremist group is responsible for the death of a sultan of Maguindanao last Wednesday.
A military officer, who requested anonymity, said the extremist group has lately been criticized by 45-year-old Sultan Sayyid Hajji Datu Amir bin Muhammad Baraguir in his radio program.
The military officer said this could have motivated the group to liquidate Baraguir just outside his residence in Sultan Kudarat.
The official, however, did not identify the Muslim extremist group saying they still have no clear suspects in the case.
Baraguir was killed when two motorcycle-riding gunmen fired at the van that they were riding Wednesday evening.
They were about to enter their residence compound in Barangay Salimbao when attacked.
Baraguir's brother, Datu Andy, was also wounded and is now recuperating at the hospital.
Sultan Baraguir died of multiple gunshot wounds in the body. He was a writer of a national daily newspaper and a staff member of Radyo Kalimudan.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesman Eid Kabalu already denied any responsibility in the death of Baraguir saying, "the MILF has no interest" in him.
Kabalu said the attack could be connected to a family feud or had something to do with Baraguir's position as a member of the Royal Sultanate. He said many others claimed to be the real sultans.
"Besides the area is controlled by the Baraguir and Mastura family," Kabalu said.
"There is an ongoing rivalry between sultans, and there is a power struggle among them. Many are claiming to be the real sultans. Family feud could be another motive in the attack," added Kabalu.
Baraguir, a descendant of Maguindao Sultan Shariff Muhamman Kabungsuan ibn Ali Zainal Abidin, was enthroned in December as the 25th Sultan of Maguindanao, and named as Seri Paduka Sultan Sayyid Hadji Datu Amir bin Muhammad Baraguir.
Before he was killed, Baraquir vowed to pursue the right of the Muslims to self-determination under the UN Charter and international agreements.
Baraguir was the third son of the late Sultan Muhammad Baraguir and Bai Fatima Andong, whose family roots were traced from three historic Muslim royalties in the southern Philippines.
The Maguindanao Sultanate was originally set up by Malacca noblemen who settled in Mindanao after fleeing the Portuguese conquest of Malacca.
It was famous for its violent resistance to Spanish conquest and only subdued towards the end of the 19th century, just before the Spanish lost control of the islands to the United States.
Current sultans in the southern Philippines are merely figureheads with no real political power but they continue to exert influence over Muslims and well respected in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Task Force Sultan was activated Saturday to investigate the killing of Baraguir.
Senior Supt. Akmad Mamalinta, Armm police chief, said influential elders of the Baraguir clan have requested the investigation to clear matters surrounding the brutal slaying of the sultan.
"The investigating body is purposely formed to solve the crime and prosecute the real culprits. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex) |
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