Troops in Kudarat town on high alert

Koronadal City — Police and military personnel deployed in the Sultan Kudarat town of Columbio remain on high alert due to a supposed plot by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels to attack the municipality.

Re-elected Columbio Mayor Edwin Bermudez said the alert level in the entire town is still high because Moro separatist guerrillas have reportedly set up a base in a remote part of the town and are poised for an attack.

Two weeks ago, four people were shot dead as soldiers were about to transport 21 uncanvassed election returns to the capital town of Isulan. The incident prompted the military to stay put.

Police probers are still uncertain as to who the attackers were. A military official, however, blamed the killing on an "armed group" operating in the province.

The carnage was followed by the strafing and burning of an abandoned house reportedly owned by a former municipal election officer identified only as one Sansarona. No one was reported hurt.

The attack occurred nine hours after Bermudez was proclaimed winner in the mayoralty race.

Bermudez, who ran under the banner of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, defeated his lone rival, Mohammad Paglas (Lakas-CMD), by a margin of 1,500 votes.

Also proclaimed were Vice Mayor Amirh Musali, Paglas’ cousin, and the eight councilors-elect, namely Alfredo Cano, Mildred Segismundo, Edmund Condes, Wilfredo Casamorin, Mayda Saira Manibpel, Orlando Baira, Caniang-ca Latip and Ali Madidis. — Ramil Bajo