Siblings slain in N. Cotabato ambush

ALEOSAN, North Cotabato – Two siblings were killed when waylaid by still unidentified gunmen along the boundary of Pikit and Aleosan towns in North Cotabato, Monday, reports said. Killed were identified as Datumama Duma, 36, and his brother Suwaib Duma, 34, both residents of Sitio Tubak, Barangay Pagangan in Aleosan. Barangay Pagangan chairman Gregorio Guanzon said the victims were onboard a Yamaha DT motorcycle when fired at by unidentified suspects along Barangay Bualan in Pikit town at 4:30 p.m. Senior Inspector Sindatu Karim, officer-in-charge of Pikit Police, said the attackers were positioned on a high ground along the highway and after seeing their targets have arrived at the place fired them bullets using M14 armalite rifles. The victims died on the spot. Karim hinted the ambush could be caused by ‘rido’ or clan feud. Both victims were fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In fact, Karim said the Duma brothers were residents of Sitio Tubak, a known MILF territory in Aleosan town. In Tulunan town, a male cadaver was found along Barangay Sibsib, around 730 a.m., Monday. Authorities identified the victim only in his surname as Abdul who suffered several gunshot wounds in different parts of his body. Abdul’s body was retrieved by his relatives Monday afternoon. They told police the victim went missing since May 23. Authorities hinted the victim was killed somewhere else as residents of Barangay Sibsib in Tulunan told investigators they have not heard of any gunshot in their place. The killing could be drug-related, police said.