Village councilman, Church worker killed in North Cotabato ambush, another village councilman hurt
Local News • 19:13 PM Thu Apr 20, 2017
1,238
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
(Google image)
KABACAN, North
Cotabato -– Police authorities in North Cotabato, in partnership with
the 602nd Infantry Brigade, have launched manhunt against gunmen who
killed a village councilman, a Church-worker and injured another village
official Wednesday, officials said today.
In Pikit town,
unidentified gunman shot dead a village councilman of Maguindanao in front of a
gas station here, according to Chief Inspector Donald Cabigas, town police
chief.
Cabigas
identified identified the victim as Mamay Ali Matalam, 25, village councilman
of Barangay Poblacion, Pagalungan, Maguindanao.
Cabigas said
the victim was driving his motorbike near a gas station in Poblacion Pikit when
one of two men on separate motorbike shot him from behind in the head at about
8 p.m. He died on the spot.
Responding
police recovered several empty shells for cal. 45 pistol used by the gunman in
killing Matalam.
Police
investigators are looking at personal grudge as the possible motive. Police
probe continues.
In Kabacan,
North Cotabato, unidentified armed men shot dead Venevic Casayas Sr, 41, of
Sitio Tawagon, Barangay Kibudtungan, Carmen, North Cotabato. Casayas is a Kaabag or Church lay worker.
The motive,
police said, was robbery since the suspect took his brand new motorbike. He was
driving his motorcycle along the national highway in Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan,
North Cotabato when shot at 7 p.m.
In Barangay Aringay,
Kabacan, gunmen shot and wounded Village Councilman Elmer Calpito of Barangay
Pisan.
Calpito was
driving his motorbike heading for home at 8 p.m. when two men armed with cal.
45 pistol shot him three times.
He
miraculously survived and is now recuperating at a private hospital here.
Senior Supt.
Emmanuel Peralta, North Cotabato police director, said police are following up
leads that could eventually arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
More police
checkpoints have been established, in partnership with the Army’s 7th
Infantry Battalion in crime prone villages in town.