A regional military commander Monday ordered the arrest of two soldiers implicated in the alleged assassination of the scion of an influential political clan in Maguindanao last week in Cotabato City.

Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), said he had coordinated with the commanding officers of the 10th Infantry Division and 6th Infantry Division where Private Norodin Sinsuat and Private Ismael Mama are assigned, respectively.

Witnesses tagged Sinsuat and Mama as the ones responsible for the alleged killing of Errol Sinsuat, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President of Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao in Cotabato City on Wednesday night.

"I have already ordered their arrest but they are both hiding. I believe one of them is wounded as revealed by the bloodstains from the recovered motorycle they used," said Ferrer in an interview in Camp Crame.

Ferrer said the death of Sinsuat further aggravated the volatile peace and order situation in Maguindanao, explaining that the assassination appears to be an alleged rift within the Sinsuat clan.

Maguindanao is placed under the priority of the police and military for this year's elections, in light of the brewing showdown between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus.

"It makes us feel worried because they have this rido (blood feud), we are monitoring the situation there and it (Maguindanao) will be the priority in the deployment of additional troops," said Ferrer.

It was recalled that Ferrer has asked for two more battalions of soldiers that will be tasked to secure Maguindanao against the possible clashes between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus and their supporters once the local campaign period starts.

The request has not been approved so far but Ferrer said they are expecting the additional troops to arrive before the start of the local campaign period on March 26.

On Thursday, the Cotabato City Police filed a case of murder and frustrated murder against Sinsuat, who turned out to be a cousin of the victim, Mama, and the incumbent mayor of Datu Blah Sinsuat.

Senior Supt. Willie Dangane, Cotabato City Police chief, said Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Ibrahim Sinsuat might have ordered the killing of Errol Sinsuat after the latter openly supported the candidacy of the incumbent vice mayor of the town who decided to run for mayor in this year's elections.

The frustrated murder case stemmed from the wounding of a rookie policeman who traded shots with the two soldiers after responding on the incident. The cop was reportedly able to shoot one of the soldiers.