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Lanao Norte town mayor’s brother to face raps for ‘kidnapping’


MAGTUNGAO, Lanao del Norte — The family of a mayoral candidate is set on filing charges against the brother of incumbent mayor of this town for alleged kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms. Mayoral candidate Inurac Lantud was quoted as saying that the plan to file raps against Samuel Azis, brother of incumbent mayor Jabber Azis, stemmed from the alleged kidnapping last Tuesday of Kunum Radto Manguranda, a political leader of Lantud. In an interview with GMANews.TV on Thursday, Pantao Ragat town vice mayor Lacson Lantud (son of Inurac) said that: “After Tuesday’s incident, I ordered our legal counsel to prepare legal action against Samuel." At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Samuel Azis allegedly forced Manguranda to ride in one of the nine motorcycles of Azis’ convoy. Manguranda later disclosed that Samuel told him to go with him and meet with his brother mayor Azis at the municipal hall and to stop from supporting Lantud. He added that when the convoy reached barangay Poblacion, he forcibly moved his body, causing the motorbike to lose balance and crash, and shortly after, a commotion erupted between Lantud’s supporters in the area and Asis’ men. One of the two PNP escorts of Lantud who was in the scene reportedly tried to fire a warning shot to calm down the tension. But before he could do so, Azis allegedly pulled his gun, forcing the cop to shoot Azis, who was hit in the stomach. Col. Leo Ferrer, Brigade Commander of the 601st brigade disclosed to GMANews.TV that he ordered Col. Allan Hambala, Comanding Officer (CO) of the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) to intervene to maintain peace and order in the town. Hours later, Ferrer said that he also ordered Col. Juvy Max Uy, CO of the 43rd IB to bring in two armored vehicles to augment the troops from the 15th IB. On the other hand, vice mayor Lantud claimed that Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo (2D Lanao del Norte) implicated him in Tuesday’s shooting incident, adding that the lawmaker even wanted PNP provincial director PS/Supt. Orlando Benas sacked for failing to run after the police escort of the Lantuds. Dimaporo allegedly also implicated PNP Supt. Dimakuta Sanggacala, a nephew of Lantud, who according to Dimaporo, tried to cover up the shooting incident in Matungao. — Ric Clet/LBG, GMANews.TV

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