2 dead, 2 hurt in Cotabato shooting incident —police

KIDAPAWAN CITY –Unidentified gunmen riding tandem on three motorbikes shot to death two farmers in Matalam, Cotabato last Thursday night, in an attack that also  wounded two others, including a public school teacher, a police report said.

An initial police investigation showed that the farmer-victims were on their way home to Barangay Kabulacan in Matalam when the suspects launched the attack at about 7:20 p.m.

Inspector Sunny Leoncito, chief of the Matalam Police, identified the slain victims as Isidro Mata Cantil, 56, and Ruben Alcalde Ramujal, 52, both farmers and residents of Barangay Kabulacan.

Hurt in the attack were Prudencio Mata Cantil, 42, of Purok 4-B, Barangay Kabulacan; and Ruben Santillano Agbunag, 39, a teacher and a resident of Purok 4-B, Barangay Kibia.

Citing initial information, Leoncito said that the victims were on a tricycle driven by Cantil and were headed for Barangay Kabulacan when armed suspects riding tandem on three motorcycles launched the ambush attack in Barangay Marbel.

The victims had just visited a sick relative at a hospital in Poblacion, Matalam, when the ambush took place.

Isidro Cantil and Ramujal died on the spot while Prudencio Cantil and Agbunag were rushed to a hospital in Kidapawan City.

Leoncito said they already have the names of the suspects but are being withheld as investigation and pursuit operation are ongoing.

Police considered personal grudge and land conflict as among the possible motives for the attack. —LBG, GMA News