Ex-Maguindanao mayor, brother killed in Cotabato anti-narco ops

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A former mayor and his sibling were killed in separate anti-narcotics raids here before dawn Friday.

Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-12, said Talib Abo Sr., erstwhile mayor of Parang town in Maguindanao, and his brother Disomimba, died from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in a shootout with teams dispatched to search for shabu in their houses.

Gonzalez said the raiding teams were forced to neutralize them when they refused to cooperate and pulled out guns, provoking gunfights.

Gonzalez said PRO-12 personnel also raided the houses of Abo’s daughter, Bai Amelia, incumbent municipal councilor in Parang, and Amy, also known as “Baby Love,” who is now detained.

Bai Amelia, who is candidate for vice mayor of Parang, was left scot-free for absence of any evidence as basis for her detention.

Gonzalez said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is now in custody of the shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and firearms seized during the raids.

Gonzalez said Abo and members of his family have been under surveillance for alleged large scale distribution of shabu long before the election to office of President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2016.

Relatives of Abo have asked for a ‘third party” probe on the bloody raids. They also refuted allegations that he and his brother were into narcotics trafficking.

Juvenal Azurin, director of PDEA-ARMM, said the operation that resulted in the deaths of Abo and his brother was led by personnel of PRO-12 led by Superintendent Leo De Leon Sua, premised on warrants from a court.

Azurin said PDEA-ARMM will help PRO-12 file corresponding cases against Amy from whose house agents recovered evidence that can be used for her prosecution in court.