Mangudadatu draws prayers after latest attempt on his life
COTABATO CITY – Hundreds of supporters from the Muslim, Christian and lumad sectors turned to prayers for the safety of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, following another attempt on his life last Saturday morning.
Social media was flooded with posts imploring that people pray for Mangudadatu after the chartered helicopter he was riding was shot at, with one of the bullets missing the governor’s face by a few inches.
The attention of journalists was drawn to a 16-year-old girl who offered a prayer for the safety of Mangudadatu at the Cotabato Cathedral.
“Nagpasalamat po ako sa Panginoon at hindi nasaktan si governor (I thanked God that the governor was unhurt),” the girl said when asked while exiting from the church.
The girl did not give her name, but a media worker said she was among those who attended the Maguindanao Provincial Education Assistance and Community Empowerment (MagPEACE) last summer, a scholarship program established nine years ago by the governor.
Mangudadatu narrowly escaped death on Saturday when the helicopter he was riding in was fired at by suspected Moro militants while flying over Datu Salibo town en route to the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6th ID) camp. One of the bullets missed his head by just a few inches.
“A bullet that pierced through the chopper’s right window shield nearly hit me in the head,” he told reporters after he landed at the Maguindanao airport, which located in the vicinity of the Army camp.
The helicopter, owned by Aerworkz, was hit by .308-caliber bullets, also known as 762 millimeter round, from M-14 assault rifles.
Police and military officials said the governor, his brother, Mayor Freddie of Mangudadatu town, and pilot Dennis Figueroa were on their way to the Army’s 6th ID headquarters where the governor was invited to deliver a keynote speech on a youth summit against terrorism-bound extremism.
The local police blamed the attack on the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), one of militant groups in Mindanao affiliated with the jihadist Islamic State (IS).