Maguindanao mayor, 12 others die in bomb blast

COTABATO CITY — At least 13 people, including a mayor-son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, were killed and at least 12 others were injured in a powerful bomb explosion in the mayor’s town yesterday morning.

The incident that killed Mayor Saudi Ampatuan of Datu Piang town happened just three days after his younger brother Hofer was killed in a shootout during a bikini competition at a hotel here.

Saudi Ampatuan died of injuries to his head and abdomen at the Catholic-run Notre Dame Hospital here. Three of the fatalities were identified as Datu Piang municipal treasurer Nasut Macapendeg, councilor Rodolfo Wahab and a certain Imampaden Mastura Ismael.

Maj. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the 4th Infantry Division, said the homemade bomb exploded during a party Ampatuan was hosting in his compound. The bomb featured a timing device and two mortar shells.

The Associated Press quoted Ando as saying that the military suspected the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to be behind the attack.

The Ampatuans are known for their hardline policy in dealing with MILF forces operating in their communities.

But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu denied any involvement, saying that the Datu Piang mayor had many personal and political enemies.

"There is no reason for us to do that because the mayor was not our enemy," Kabalu said. "In fact, many of those injured are my relatives."

Kabalu said some MILF members might have personal disputes with the Ampatuans but these were not so severe as to make them resort to killing.

Engineer Norie Unas, Gov. Ampatuan’s spokesman, said they are certain that the attack was not related in any way with Saturday’s shootouts that left 23-year-old Hofer and four others dead.

"Let us not speculate that this is related to that incident. We are convinced that a third party was behind the bomb attack that resulted in the untimely death of Datu Saudi," Unas said.

A day after Hofer was killed, the mayor told The STAR that he was worried that "third forces" could take advantage of the incident to worsen the animosity between the Ampatuan and the Adalin clans.

Three members of the Adalin clan — former Cotabato City councilor Magno Adalin, his engineer-son Gerry and nephew Nelson, a barangay councilman — were among the fatalities in Saturday’s shootouts which stemmed from a mere verbal tussle during the bikini competition.

Saudi Ampatuan told The STAR that their family would not do anything to worsen the situation.

The mayor, who was on his third term, was engaged in the trucking and real estate businesses.