8 motorists killed, 1 wounded in Cotabato massacre —police

KABACAN, Cotabato —Eight motorcycle riders were killed in an attack by at least five armed men shortly after 12 noon on Saturday in a barangay in Kabacan town, police said.

Major Peter Pinalgan, chief of the Kabacan Municipal Police Station, said the ambuscade took place in Barangay Aringa at about 12:10 p.m.

According to Pinalgan, the victims were on motorcycles heading toward the town center when they were waylaid by at least five unidentified armed men.

An initial police investigation showed that spent bullets recovered from the site indicated that the suspects used high-powered long arms.

Pinalgan said that one of the victims survived the attack and was rushed to the  Kabacan Polymedic Hospital.

Pinalgan said the wounded victim might be able to provide authorities with information about the motive and the identities of the suspects.

Kabacan authorities are not discounting the possibility that the attack stemmed from clan feud in Barangay Aringay, the police officer said.

Meawhile, Pinalgan belied social media reports saying that cops were behind the massacre.

“The PNP was not behind the attack.  Kabacan PNP personnel just responded to the crime scene and conducted pursuit operations against the perpetrators,” he said.

According to Pinalgan, the victims have not been identified as no witness of the incident have come forward for fear of possible reprisal. —LBG, GMA News