MikeLigalig.com

By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

(PNA) -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appealed on Monday to the city residents to stay calm amid the worry brought about by killing incident at a mall last week, involving the warring Moro clans of the Mangudadatus and Ampatuans.

Speaking to reporters at the city hall, he said he would exert effort to talk to these clans and ask them to spare the city from their conflict.

He said that it was just incidental that the warring families were in the city as most of their respective children study in the schools here.

“I will talk to these families to ask them to spare the city,” Duterte said.

He said he was wary of the impact of the incident to the confidence and safety of local residents to go to public places.

The mayor declined to comment on the merits of the incident leading to the death of Tamano Kamendan Mamalapat at the fourth floor of the mall, implicating the body guards of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu.

Duterte said he respected the right of the wife Mamalapat to file murder charges against the alleged perpetrators.

He urged the police to gather more pieces of evidence in the pursuit of any legal complaint cropping up from the incident.

Duterte reminded the police not to force anyone to testify against their will.

He surmised to believe more on the police report and the investigation of the fiscal on the incident. (PNA)