South Cotabato mayor shot dead

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Sto. Niño, South Cotabato town mayor Pablo Matinong, who was reportedly included in President Duterte’s narco-list, was shot dead past 8 a.m. Saturday, July 10.

Matinong was reportedly inspecting a barangay project in Barangay Poblacion in Sto. Niño when he was gunned by two unidentified suspects riding in a motorcycle.

Matinong sustained to two gunshot wounds to the head.

Meanwhile, police described the driver of the motorcycle as a man, who was wearing a black sweatshirt, dark blue shortpants, black cap with facemask and had medium body build. The backrider, who was the gunman, was wearing a black sweatshirt, black shortpants, black cap with facemask and has medium body build.

Initial investigation showed that Matinong was walking alone while checking a road concreting project beside the barangay plaza at Purok Libertad in Barangay Poblacion when he was attacked around 7:55 a.m.

Police said the suspects suddenly appeared onboard a black motorcycle and shot Matinong.

A bystander identified as Analyn Avance, 42, was also hit by a stray bullet on the left shoulder.

After the shooting incident, police said the suspects immediately sped off to an unknown direction.

The victims were rushed to Doctor

Luntao Clinic and Hospital in Sto. Niño town for immediate treatment, but Matinong was declared dead on arrival by the attending doctor.

Matinong was among the hundreds of personalities named by Duterte in his narco list in 2016, as confirmed by a post of the Presidential Communications Operations Office on its website (PCOO).

Matinong had repeatedly denied his inclusion in the narco list, saying it was all part of political attacks against him.