Sto. Niño, South Cotabato mayor shot dead –police

The mayor of Sto. Niño, South Cotabato was gunned down on Friday morning, police said.

Initial information from the Police Regional Office XII identified the victim as Mayor Pablo Matinong.

Police said the incident happened at 7:55 a.m. in Purok Libertad in Barangay Poblacion. Matinong was visiting his infrastructure project at the said area when he was shot by still unidentified suspects.

He was rushed to Doctor Luntao Clinic and Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. 

Based on initial investigation, the suspects were riding a black Honda XRM with no plate number, with the driver wearing a black sweatshirt, dark blue short pants and black cap, and the back-rider garbed in black sweatshirt, black short pants and black cap.

According to authorities, the suspects shot the mayor twice, fled, then returned to shoot the victim again.

A bystander was hurt in the incident after she was hit on her left shoulder. She is now under medical treatment at a hospital.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the motive of the crime and identify the suspects. Random checkpoints and chokepoints were established near the crime scene and adjacent municipal police stations.

Police initially eyed personal grudge as motive for the killing. —KBK, GMA News