North Cotabato village official shot dead while mediating dispute

TULUNAN, North Cotabato – A village councilor here was shot dead by his own constituent after he mediate a heated altercation on a land boundary issue in his area. Police identified the victim as Alex Alcarde, councilor of Barangay Minapan in Tulunan. The suspect was identified as Elay Absalon, 38, also resident of Barangay Minapan. Police said Alcarde just intervened when he saw his aunt quarreled with the suspect about her lot. Her aunt accused Absalon of crossing the boundary of her land. Police added that when Alcarde failed to settle the debate between the two, he fired a warning shot. This, reports said, infuriated the suspect who immediately took his caliber 45 pistol and shot the barangay kagawad. Alcarde was hit on his chest and died on the spot. The suspect immediately fled to unknown direction and is already the subject of police manhunt.