TUGUNAN, BARMM — A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was shot dead in a brazen daylight ambush on Wednesday, April 22, in a remote village within the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro region, raising fresh concerns over security in the area.
The victim was identified as Abdulmaguid Hadji Ali, widely known as Commander King Sadam, a resident of Sitio Gawang, Barangay Manaulanen in the municipality of Tugunan.
Initial reports indicate that the incident occurred between 12:50 p.m. and shortly after 1:00 p.m. in Barangay Manaulanen. According to the victim’s relatives, Hadji Ali had just attended an Islamic seminar workshop at Mahad Shemaley, a local religious institution in the area.
Moments after leaving the venue, he was reportedly ambushed by unidentified gunmen who opened fire without warning. Witness accounts suggest the attackers fired multiple shots, hitting the commander several times in different parts of the body. He died instantly at the scene.
After carrying out the attack, the suspects fled toward the northern direction, leaving the victim lifeless on the ground. Authorities have yet to determine the identities of the assailants or the motive behind the killing.
Family members immediately retrieved Hadji Ali’s remains and prepared them for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, a practice that calls for swift interment.
Relatives of the slain commander are now calling for justice, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
The killing underscores persistent security challenges in parts of the SGA under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where law enforcement presence is often limited and armed groups remain active.
As of this writing, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. Investigations are ongoing.