Manhunt on vs. killers of NoCot village chair, tanod

CARMEN, North Cotabato -- Police have launched a manhunt against two armed men who ambushed and killed a village chair and his watchman here on Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Julius Malcontento, Carmen town police chief, said that they are pursuing a lead that could identify the two suspects in the murder of Joaquin Sardon Segumban, 56, village chair of Barangay Tonganon, and the village chief watchman, Joey Gmotia Gamarchia, 57.

Initial investigation points to political rivalry as the likely motive behind the attack, Malcontento said. The ambush occurred at 2:45 p.m. in Sitio Galay, Barangay Kibayao, also of this town.

Chief Inspector Maikail Tan, head of North Cotabato provincial Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), said Segumban sustained nine gunshot wounds while Gamotia had five bullet wounds.

After the shooting, responding police officers and village personnel rushed the victims to the Carmen municipal hospital but were declared dead on arrival.

Malcontento said the victims were on board a village-owned vehicle heading for home from the Barangay Poblacion when attacked.

As the victims were approaching the village center, two men armed with cal. 45 pistols opened fire on them.

Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, acting North Cotabato police director, ordered Malcontento to leave no stone unturned in hunting down the perpetrators. (PNA)