Village Councilman, Watchmen Killed İn Philippine South

By Hader Glang



ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Four village officials have been killed in a Muslim majority city in the southern Philippines after gunmen opened fire on a patrol vehicle.



Senior Supt. Rex Anongos, Cotabato City police director, told local media Saturday that the death toll from the attack the evening before had risen after the only survivor, a village watchman, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at hospital.



The three other victims included Misuari Karim, a councilman of Bagua Mother village who chaired its peace and order committee and spearheaded an anti-drug campaign, and two other watchmen, The Inquirer reported.



Responding policemen recovered empty shells for an AK-47 rifle, M-16 rifle, cal. 45 pistol and 9 mm pistol at the scene of the attack, which was reportedly carried out by six unidentified gunman.



Witnesses said the victims were caught unaware and failed to return fire at the attackers, who quickly sped away.



Other village watchmen rushed the victims to hospital.



According to Anongos, the motive behind the shooting could be a personal grudge.



GMA News cited the national police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as saying that around half an hour before the incident, Kasim had visited their Cotabato office after receiving death threats.



A number of militant groups operate in the troubled Philippines south, also home to political clans who sometimes engage in rido, or revenge killings -- at times leading to difficulty in determining the perpetrators of crimes and their purpose. - Zamboanga