Cops gather 20 sworn statements vs. culprits in Eid massacre

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Investigators have gathered 20 sworn statements of witnesses to Monday’s deadly ambush in Talipao town in Sulu, bolstering efforts to prosecute the culprits.

The attack, blamed on Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Idang Susukan and Sibih Pisi, left 23 dead, some of them children, and more than a dozen others wounded.

Reports reaching the office here of Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said more than 20 witnesses have volunteered to help identify the ambushers.

Investigators have gathered, as of Friday, 20 sworn statements of witnesses to the atrocity, the reports stated.

Sulu is a component province of ARMM, which also covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in Central Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

Hataman, chairman of the ARMM’s inter-agency regional peace and order council, said he is optimistic corresponding criminal cases can be filed against the ambushers within this month.

The victims were on board a jeepney on their way to the town proper of Talipao to attend an Eid’l Fit’r gathering when they were attacked while at Barangay Lower Talipao.

Investigators said the gunmen, armed with M-16 and M-14 assault rifles, opened fire at the vehicle carrying the victims, killing more than a dozen on the spot.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, regional executive secretary of ARMM, said Hataman’s office has extended initial assistance to the families of the villagers who were killed in the attack.

Alamia said Hataman also provided with medicines and cash assistance the wounded victims now undergoing medication in hospitals in Sulu and in Zamboanga City.