2 killed in Cotabato shooting, hacking incidents

KIDAPAWAN CITY—One was killed in a shooting incident in Pikit town, and another died in a hacking attack in Makilala town, both in Cotabato province.

In Pikit, a member of a para-military group died after he was shot by his buddy in the chest and head using an M14 rifle while inside their detachment at about 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Romy Castañares, chief of Pikit PNP, identified the victim as Esmael Tanto, 43, a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) under the 31st Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) Company assigned in Barangay Ginatilan.

The suspect was identified as Alberto Caburnay, Jr., also a CAFGU member under the same Company.

Castañares said that minutes before the shooting incident, the victim and the suspect had a heated argument on "very personal matters." 

To avoid the spat from worsening, the victim went to the headquarter's dining room to watch his favorite television show, reports said. 

But Caburnay went to his room, took his rifle, went to the dining room, and shot Tanto twice --first in the chest and then in the head.

Tanto was rushed to a hospital but died reportedly before arrival at the Cruzado Medical Clinic in the Poblacion.

Police recovered from the scene of the crime eight spent bullets of the M14 rifle the suspect used. Caburnay escaped and is now a subject of police manhunt.

In Makilala town, a 37-year-old farmer was hacked to death by his friend, also after a heated argument at about 8:30 p.m. also on Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Johnny Rick Felongco Medel, chief of Makilala PNP, identified the victim as Reynald Pepikan of Purok-3, Barangay Batasan, Makilala, while the suspect was only identified in his alias as “Bolandot”, also a resident of the barangay.

Medel said the suspect had long been at odds with the victim.

After the verbal tussle, the suspect went home and went back with a bolo, and hacked the victims several times.

Pepikan, who was struck in the head and chest, died on the spot. Bolandot escaped and now being hunted by authorities. —LBG, GMA News