Maguindanao village councilman kills cousin, surrenders

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao - A village councilman voluntarily surrendered to police authorities after he shot dead a cousin who was also a village council member in a remote village here Wednesdaynight, police said.Senior Inspector Esmael Madin, police chief of Sultan Kudarat town, identified the suspect as Nasser Duiaber Dayon, barangay councilman ofBarangay Narra, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and the victim as Barangay Ibutigenvillage councilor Tato Dayon, 56.Madin said the shooting was triggered by a long standing personal grudge involving the two village officials.Madin said the suspect has been harboring grudge against his cousin because of his alleged involvement in the cattle rustling and illegal cutting of trees in the village.On Tuesday night,Nasser went to Tato's home and without provocation shot the latter using cal. 45 pistol.With the help of local officials, both families agreed to negotiate for the peaceful settlement of the murder and the payment of blood money.In the meantime, Nasser is currently detained at Sultan Kudarat PNP lock up cell.