Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman on Monday condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the killing of a former official of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a shooting incident in Cotabato City on Sunday.
Police reported that still unknown motorcycle-riding assailants rained gunfire on the vehicle of Ramil Masukat, a former director of the ARMM Humanitarian and Emergency Assistance Response Team (HEART), while traversing Ramon Rabago Avenue in Cotabato City.
“We condemn this brazen act of crime committed against Engineer Ramil, who at the time of his death was living a quiet life as a private citizen. Any force of violence should not be tolerated in any form,” Hataman, a former governor of ARMM, said.
“I call on the police authorities to go after Engineer Ramil’s killers. Putting away the perpetrators of this crime makes our communities a little safer. Criminals and masterminds must be held accountable for killing Masukat,” he added.
After the shooting incident, Masukat’s driver was able to drive to a gasoline station near a police station. He expired while he was being treated at Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.
Hataman also raised alarm on the rising spate of violence, especially in the areas of Cotabato City and other areas in BARMM.
Just this January and December last year, there were several reports of citizens being killed in Cotab to City: a police officer serving as escort of a Maguindanao del Norte mayor; an incumbent village councilman in Barangay Bagua 1; a traffic enforcer along Rufino Alonzo St.; an electrician in Tulingan Street in Barangay Bagua 2; a Moro patriarch in Barangay Tamontaka 4; and many others.
“Our citizens should feel safe in our streets,” Hataman stressed as he appealed to police authorities to double the security to protect the citizenry.
The Basilan lawmaker condoled with the family of Masukat and vowed to extend any assistance to his loved ones.
Aside from being the head of the ARMM-HEART, Masukat was also the director of technical management services at ARMM. He also served as Rajah Buayan Municipal Planning and Development Officer.