Former Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan, who led his group to fight government troops last week, on Saturday sought the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying he was wrongly accused for his alleged crimes.
“I am asking help from Mr. President Bongbong Marcos. You have to help me because I do not want to suffer from my rights being trampled upon. I am wrongfully accused,” Mudjasan said in a video message, while being surrounded by armed supporters who proclaimed to be part of the Moro National Liberation Front.
Mudjasan and his men figured in a gunfight with government troops last week which left five dead, including a policeman, as authorities continued to pursue him, the Philippine National Police said.
PNP Public Information Office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said Mudjasan was reportedly employing armed civilians and keeping loose firearms and explosives in his possession.
The former vice mayor has standing warrants of arrest for double murder, multiple murder, two counts of frustrated murder, and violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regular Act.
The Area Police Command-Western Mindanao said Mudjasan’s group is a potential private armed group that may be utilized in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on Oct. 30.
Brigadier General Eugenio Boquio, commander of the 1101st Infantry Brigade, said six Special Action Force members, four PNP personnel, one 41st Infantry Battalion member, two civilians, and two people from Mudjasan’s side were wounded last week.
Police and military units encountered an undetermined number of armed men during the service of an arrest warrant for murder and the implementation of search warrants against Mudjasan.
The government forces were unable to arrest Mudjasan because he was alerted by the early start of the firefight, according to the PNP.
Recovered from the operation were one M14 rifle, four magazines, assorted ammunition, and personal items.
The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group took custody of the seized pieces of evidence for documentation and proper disposition.