3 killed, 1 hurt in latest Cotabato City violence

COTABATO CITY - Three village officials were killed and another was seriously wounded on Friday in yet another shooting incident in the city, this time on Tanghal Bridge in Barangay Bagua Mother.

 

The latest shooting happened past 5:10 p.m. and the victims were a village councilor and three village watchmen. 

 

Senior Supt. Rex Anongos, Cotabato City police director, said around six gunmen who were in an unidentified vehicle and a motorbike opened fire at the Barangay Bagua Mother patrol vehicle parked on the bridge, just beside the Barangay Tanod outpost. 

 

Anongos identified the slain village councilman as Misuari Karim. Barangay watchmen Mamanta Kalim and Theng Wahab were also killed in the shooting.

 

Another village watchman, Omar Abo, was in critical condition in the hospital as of this post.

 

Responding policemen recovered empty shells for an AK-47 rifle, M-16 rifle, cal. 45 pistol and 9 mm pistol.

 

Witnesses said the victims were caught unaware and failed to return fire at the attackers, who quickly sped away.

 

Other village watchmen rushed the victims to the hospital. 

 

Anongos said the motive could be a personal quarrel.

 

About 30 minutes earlier, Karim had visited the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in the city to seek assistance over death threats he said he had received, CIDG officials said.

 

Karim chaired the barangay council committee on peace and order and spearheaded the campaign against illegal drugs in the village.

Between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, six people have been killed in five shooting incidents in what residents described as "shooting season." 

 

In August alone, at least 15 shooting incidents were recorded by the Cotabato City police office. — Ferdinandh Cabrera/JDS, GMA News