Abdulrahman E was a 16-year-old student of Islamic theology in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur. He was last seen on 17 March, riding a motorcycle out to check on the family’s livestock. When he didn’t return, his family sought help from local officials. His father, Salahuddin, went out to look for him but returned home after being told he had been detained by soldiers.
The next day, Salahuddin received a call from local officials telling him to come and collect his son’s body. He described Abdulrahman’s body as being hog-tied, with both hands and feet tied to a bamboo pole, and gunshot wounds to the chest. He appeared to have been beaten, and his face and head were disfigured almost beyond recognition.
Abdulrahman’s body was found by local villagers a few metres from the site where four soldiers of the 40th Infantry Batallion had been fatally ambushed the previous day. The four soldiers were in a vehicle on their way to their command post in Barangay Tuayan when members of the armed groups Dawlah Islamiyah and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters allegedly opened fire, killing all of them on the spot.
It is unclear whether Abdulrahman was in any way involved in the ambush incident, but his father believes the army was responsible for his death.
Abdulrahman is survived by his father and eight brothers.
Si Abdulrahman E ay isang labing-anim na taong gulang na mag-aaral ng teolohiyang Islamiko sa Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur. Huli siyang nakita noong Marso 17, sakay ng isang motorsiklo para tingnan ang mga alagang hayop ng kanilang pamilya. Nang hindi siya umuwi, humingi ng tulong ang kanyang pamilya sa mga lokal na opisyal. Hinanap siya ng kanyang amang si Salahuddin, na napilitang umuwi rin matapos masabihang hawak ng mga militar ang kanyang anak.
Kinabukasan, nakatanggap ng tawag si Salahuddin mula sa mga lokal na opisyal na nagsabing iuwi niya na ang bangkay ng kanyang anak. Ayon kay Salahuddin, nang makita niya ang kanyang anak, nakatali ang paa at kamay nito sa isang poste ng kawayan, may mga tama ng bala sa dibdib. Mukha itong binugbog, na sa tindi, nawarat na ang ulo at mukha nito—halos hindi na makilala.
Nakita ng mga taong-baryo ang bangkay ni Abdulrahman ilang metro mula sa lugar kung saan, isang araw ang nakaraan, doon tinambangan at napatay ang apat na sundalo ng 40th Infantry Battalion. Nasa iisang sasakyan ang apat na sundalo papunta sa kanilang command post sa Barangay Tuayan nang paulanan sila ng bala ng mga miyembro ng Dawlah Islamiyah at Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Agarang namatay ang apat.
Hindi malinaw kung sangkot si Abdulrahman sa pananambang, pero naniniwala ang kanyang ama na may kinalaman ang mga militar sa kanyang pagkamatay.
Naulila ni Abdulrahman ang kanyang ama at walong lalaking kapatid. Pinayuhan sila ng pulisya na kung gusto nila magsampa ng reklamo, p’wede nila itong gawin.