Task Group Bedejim formed

BAGUIO. Chief Superintendent Eliseo Tanding and Superintendent Yamson Abellera shows photos grabbed from a camera footage showing the men who gunned down Imam Bedejim Abdullah, a Muslim leader and preacher at the Kayang Business Center at the Public Market, on December 6. (Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes)
BAGUIO. Chief Superintendent Eliseo Tanding and Superintendent Yamson Abellera shows photos grabbed from a camera footage showing the men who gunned down Imam Bedejim Abdullah, a Muslim leader and preacher at the Kayang Business Center at the Public Market, on December 6. (Photo by Jean Nicole Cortes)

THE Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) formed Special Investigation Task Group Bedejim to focus on solving the murder of Imam Abdula Baylon Bedejim on December 6 along Kayang and Shogum Street.

BCPO acting city director Senior Superintendent Eliseo Tanding, in a press briefing, explained that the police is in the process of establishing angles which will help in developing the motive for the murder of Imam Bedejim.

“After establishing the motive, this will be followed by the identification of possible suspects based on CCTV footage and photos recovered. Based on our investigation, no suspects have been apprehended,” Tanding said.

The Task Group will be supervised by Tanding, with the deputy for operations, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Scene of the Crime Operatives, Legal Division, Police Station 7, Intelligence Office, Investigation Office and the Anti-Crime Unit as members.

“As of the moment, we still cannot give any motive because we need to get all angles. We will be starting with the victims relatives in gathering information followed by the eyewitnesses aside from conducting background investigation on the victim,” Tanding stated.

A suspect based on CCTV footage and photos is now undergoing identification but BCPO believes four persons maybe behind the killing of Imam Bedijim.

“We will use all tools possible so that we can immediately solve this case. To our Muslim brothers and residents of Baguio there is no need to fear, this is an isolated case and Baguio City is known to be a peaceful place,” Tanding added.

Imam Bedejim sustained several gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body based on the medico legal certificate and was brought to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A calibre .45 Remington 1911 believed to be owned by the gunman was recovered by responding personnel of Police Station 7 and SOCO at the Magnolia Alley of Maharlikha Livelihood Center accidentally hitting a sales lady when the gunman dropped the firearm before fleeing. The sales lady was brought to the hospital for treatment.

Tanding appealed to the public to help by giving any information to the police.

Imam Bedejim’s remains was brought to Bulacan.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Military Academy, which mourns the death of the Imam has called on the police to immediately solve his murder.

PMA information chief LTC Harry Baliaga Jr., in a statement, said “the PMA family along with its graduates condemns the killing of Imam Bedejim. We encourage the general public to report to the nearest PNP Stations any possible leads that may provide significant information for the resolution of this case.”

The academy also expressed grief on the loss of its volunteer.

“The academy deeply regrets the loss of Imam Abdullah and in one with Baguio Community in expressing its sympathy to the family of Imam Bedejim Abdullah,” the statement said adding their confidence in the Philippine National Police in its efforts to apprehend and convict the persons behind the brutal slay remains.

Imam Bedejim served Asia’s premier military academy on a voluntary basis and supported the academy’s peace-building efforts.

“Throughout his service to the academy, he had always emphasized on working together regardless of race, religion, and ethnicity in nurturing peace and understanding towards a God-fearing nation,” Baliaga said.

The PMA statement read, “The PMA family recognizes and appreciates his effort for almost 17 years of invaluable support to the command for his altruistic involvement and participation especially to the Muslim Community of this command in providing religious and moral values program in support to the Character Development of the cadets.”

Progressive group Tongtongan ti Umili-Cordillera Peoples Alliance also deplored the brutal killing of the Muslim leader.

In a statement, the group said Imam Bedejim was a peace-loving individual and was very active in his advocacies. He was instrumental in movements against violent extremism, extra-judicial killings, environmental destruction and the entry of casinos in the city. He also built facilitated harmony and sought unity with other religious groups and was usually at the forefront of inter-faith dialogue and events.

“This recent attack against a religious leader show that Baguio is not spared from the relentless killings under the Duterte regime. The president’s rhetoric of murders and killings has enabled a culture that allows for anyone, even religious leaders, to become easy targets of violence—even at the heart of the city, this while perpetrators remain free and evade responsibility with impunity,” the statement said.

“We urge the authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into Imam Bedejim’s killing and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call on the people of Baguio to be vigilant in our quest for justice and our struggle to put an end to lawless violence,” the statement further read.

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