Mayor condemns Cotabato killings

THE mayor of Cotabato City condemned the series of shootings in the city, the latest of which was the ambush of an Army official on Sinsuat Avenue on Saturday night that left one soldier dead.

“We strongly condemn the most recent shooting incident and all the other shooting incidents in this city,” Mayor Mohammad Ali Matabalao said on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Manago Macalintangui, 49, and his driver, Cpl. Ramil Laguioman, 34, were on board a Mitsubishi Montero (ZAA 8652) when they were attacked on Saturday by a riding-in-tandem.

Laguioman died instantly from gunshot wounds while the Army official was unhurt in the ambush.

Cotabato City Police found eight empty shells from a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Brig. Gen. John Guyguyon, head of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, said investigators are now trying to identify the suspects and the motive of the attack.

Macalintangui was assigned at the extension office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.

He is involved in the government peace programs in the Bangsamoro region.

The shooting came a day after a woman was shot dead along Don Rufino Alonzo Avenue and the November 4 attempt on the life of a Maguindanao town election officer who was in the city.

“I have already given a clear and strong directive to the city police to get to the bottom of these cases and intensify security measures,” Matabalao said.

He has also sought the help of the Army-led Task Force Kutawato and all force multipliers in addressing the problem.