MIDSAYAP, COTABATO – A man believed to be the target of a family feud-related ambush was killed on the morning of July 24 in Barangay Agriculture, Midsayap, Cotabato Province.
The victim, identified as Dhen Mascud, also known as Kumander Dhen, is the brother of Mayor Duma Mascud of the newly created town of Kadayangan, located in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He was 54 years old and a known member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
According to Lieutenant Colonel Benhur Catcatan, Chief of Police of Midsayap, Mascud was driving his pickup truck when unidentified assailants aboard a motorcycle and a minivan opened fire on him. The incident occurred around 7:00 AM.
Mascud sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head and chest and was declared dead on the spot. His wife, identified as Anisa Mascud, and two other passengers were unharmed. Earlier reports indicated Anisa might have been injured, but this remains unconfirmed.
Initial investigation points to rido, or a long-standing family feud, as the likely motive for the attack. The assailants immediately fled the scene and remain unidentified.
The ambush has renewed concerns over the persistent cycle of violence in the region. In recent months, the BARMM and its surrounding areas have seen a string of killings allegedly linked to rido and retaliatory attacks.
This incident raises urgent questions:
- How many more lives must be lost before these family feuds are addressed through peaceful and legal channels?
- What efforts are in place to prevent these cycles of revenge that destabilize communities and undermine the peace process in the region?
- Are existing mechanisms under the BARMM government, the MILF, and law enforcement enough to mediate and resolve these conflicts?
- How can local authorities strengthen community-based conflict resolution to prevent further escalation?
The Midsayap Municipal Police Station continues to investigate the incident. Authorities are urging anyone with information to assist in identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
As tensions remain high, the killing of a high-profile figure related to a sitting mayor may trigger further retaliations, unless decisive action is taken to halt the cycle of violence. The incident underscores the pressing need for stronger conflict resolution mechanisms and community dialogue in vulnerable areas across the BARMM.