DAVAO CITY -- Murder charges have been filed against several political personalities, including a vice governor and two town mayors, who are tagged as suspects in the murder of Barira Vice Mayor Alexander Tomawis.
Buldon Mayor Fatima Ruth Tomawis, wife of the slain vice mayor, filed the complaint before the Department of Justice in Manila Thursday.
Charged were Maguindanao Vice Governor Esmael Mastura, Sultan Kudarat Mayor Tucao Mastura, Sultan Mastura Mayor Armando Mastura, former Parang mayor Talib Abo, Khadaffy Osmeña, Datu Teng Diocolano, Commissioner Laban Ibrahim Conding, Ustadz Ali Limbona, Rosalim Bangon, the victim's first cousin Raul Tomawis, Ibrahim Tucas, Hadji Gadur (alias Garbi), Hadji Abdula and several John Does.
The personalities charged with murder have strengthened the suspicion of the victim’s family that the killing of Alex Tomawis was related to the upcoming elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm) scheduled on August 8, 2011.
The slain vice mayor was earlier believed to be a strong contender for the Armm gubernatorial post. His creation of the Iranun Development Council composed of five Iranun-predominantly towns of Parang, Buldon, Barira, Matanog and Datu Blah Sinsuat was also said to be a threat to his political opponents eyeing post in the coming elections.
Tomawis family spokesman lawyer Mimbalawag Mangutara said they have several witnesses who had helped identify the 13 suspects.
Earlier, Task Force Tomawis head Pedro Cabatingan said that at least 10 people took part in the murder. Friends of Tomawis, meanwhile, claimed that a P5 million bounty had been paid to the vice mayor's killers.
Tomawis was shot and killed by unidentified assailants inside his residence in Davao City in the morning of November 28, 2010. The gunmen went to the house of Tomawis on Hill Drive Street in Buhangin district, this city, in the guise of getting the victim's signature for some important documents.
When the victim was about to approach them, one of the suspects pulled a gun and shot Tomawis in the head. The town official expired at the Davao Doctor's Hospital.
Witnesses said the suspects, who are in their teens, casually fled to an unknown direction after the shooting. Investigators have found eight spent shells of a caliber 9-millimeter pistol at the crime scene.
Tomawis was mayor of Barira for nine years before assuming the post of vice mayor. Tomawis was known to have several bodyguards when staying in Maguindanao and Cotabato City. But whenever he is in Davao City, he goes around the city alone and drives his car by himself. When asked about it, Tomawis had said he feels very safe in Davao City and does not feel the need to have bodyguards with him.
However, the vice mayor, who had been a political ally of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao, had admitted packing a pistol wherever he goes. (Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
