Gunmen kill former police chief, injure escort in Cotabato City

Armed men shot to death a former Cotabato City police chief, and critically wounded his escort on Saturday morning.

Retired Colonel Rolin Balquin, who became the city's public safety officer after retirement, and his escort Master Sergeant Ariel Gutang were attacked while the car by unidentified gunmen at about 9:19 a.m. at corner Sinsuat Avenue and Macapagal Road in Mother Barangay Rosary Heights.

An initial police investigation showed that Balquin and Gutang were preparing to leave from a store-opening event in which the retired city police chief was among invited guests.

Facebook profile picture of Ret. Police Col. Rolin Balquin.

Both victims were rushed to a hospital, but Balquin was declared dead-on-arrival due to fatal wounds in the head and torso. Gutang is in critical condition.

Initial police report indicated that the attackers used .45 caliber handgun in the attack.

Police investigators said that Balquin's family stated they never received any threats against the victim.

Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi condemned the attack on Balquin, who she said was her friend and trusted public safety officer.

“To those behind this attack, I assure you that authorities will hunt you, we will not stop until you will not be prosecuted to this heinous crime, this is too much of disrespect to our law and to our officials," Mayor Sayadi said.

On May 25, 2020, the executive secretary and spokesperson for Mayor Sayadi, Anecity “Boy” Razalan, was killed while taking his breakfast in an eatery along Notre Dame Avenue.

Razalan's slay has remained unresolved.

During the Peace and Council Meeting last week, police announced the increase of crime rate in Cotabato City for the first quarter of the year.

According to City Police Director Col. Rommel Javier, 125 crimes were recorded in the first quarter of 2022, which is higher than the 114 cases monitored for the first quarter of 2021. —LBG, GMA News