Mother killed, son hurt in N. Cotabato market shooting

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Unidentified gunmen shot dead a 42-year old mother and wounded her 20-year old son inside the public market of Matalam in North Cotabato, on Monday.Senior Inspector Sunny Leoncito, chief of the Matalam police, identified the slain victim as Divina Sumlay, 42, and a resident of Purok Krislam, Poblacion.The victim’s son, identified as Benden, was seriously hurt after he was hit on his back.Leoncito, in a radio interview, said Divina was selling fish inside the public market when a gunman pumped bullets into her head and chest.Her son was hit by a stray bullet, the police officer added.Witnesses said the suspects wore black jacket and bonnet when they executed their target.After the killing, the gunmen withdrew to the northern part of Matalam town using a Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle as get-away vehicle.Leoncito said Divina, before her death, yielded voluntarily to Police after she was warned through Oplan Tokhang ( Tuktok Hangyo ).Divina, however, has gone back to selling illegal drugs few months she received police’s warning, according to reports.Police investigators denied Divina was killed by a ‘vigilante group’.They hinted the killing could be orchestrated by a drug syndicate where Divina used to work.