North Cotabato village chair, escort die in ambush
PIKIT, North Cotabato – Unidentified
gunmen shot dead a village chair and his escort in a remote village here
Thursday afternoon, police said.
Chairperson Dats Simon, villa chair of Barangay
Bulol, Pikit and his escort Akmad Bantas, died instantly from multiple gunshot
wounds, according to Senior Insp. Sindatu Karim.
Karim told DXND Radyo Bida Koronadalsaid Simon was driving his Honda motorbike
with Bantas heading toward Barangay Bulol when ambushed along a dirt road by
five gunmen in Barangay Gli-Gli at 3 p.m.
After ensuring the victims were killed, the suspects
took Simon’s cal. 45 pistol. Responding police
recovered 12 empty shells of M-16 Armalite rifle.
Karim said personal grudge or rido” (family feud)
could be the motive of the attack since Simon had sought police assistance few
months back due to threat against him.
Karim said the slain village chair has been active
in eradicating illegal drugs activities in his village. He was also active in
conflict resolution involving Moro families allied with Moro armed group in his
village.