Son of MILF Commander Hunted for Irish Priest's Slay

August 30, 2001, Inquirer, Son of MILF commander hunted for Irish priest's slay, by Edwin O. Fernandez,
Inquirer News Service,
Posted: 1:50 AM (Manila Time)

MILF denies killing

MALABANG, Lanao del Sur — Police on Wednesay launched a hunt for six gunmen, including the son of a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander, in the killing of Irish missionary Fr. Rufus Halley during a botched kidnap attempt in this town on Tuesday.

Insp. Randall-lyon Bueno, Malabang police chief, said witnesses had identified Akto Sumagayan Daing, 35-year-old son of MILF commander Saiirip Daing, as the one who shot Halley five times in the head and body.

"We're not saying yet that the MILF is directly involved but the suspects definitely have a direct link with the MILF commander," said Senior Supt. Akmad Omar, police commander of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu, however, denied the rebel group was involved in the killing.

Kabalu said the MILF had identified Ato Masandang, nephew of former Malabang Vice Mayor Hadji Omar Masandang, as one of the gunmen.

According to the MILF spokesperson, both the nephew and his uncle are former rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Kabalu said the MILF condemned the killing of Halley, a 57-year-old missionary of the Columban order who had served at the Our Lady of Peace parish in Malabang for the past 20 years.

"Men of peace like him should be spared from violence. But there are people who give priority to money that they would not think twice about killing people," he said.

Bueno said Halley was waylaid about 5 p.m. on Tuesday as he was returning to his parish after attending a meeting of Muslims and Christians in a neighboring town.

As he drove his motorbike down a dirt road in Barangay Diamaro, six masked men armed with M-16 rifles flagged him down.

Bueno, citing witnesses, said one of the gunmen shot Bueno as he tried to run. The priest was shot four more times when he fell.

"He crossed his arms as if to cover himself from the bullets. One of the bullets shattered his skull," Bueno quoted a woman witness as saying.

"It was a foiled kidnapping . . . It was so brutal," he added.

Anwar Balindong, mayor of the predominantly Muslim town, said he had warned Halley not to travel alone following reports that he was the target of a kidnap-for-ransom gang.

Maj. Johnny Macaranas, spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based on Cotabato City, said soldiers were helping the police track down the gunmen.