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UCCP pastor shot dead in North Cotabato

By Edwin Fernandez

August 2, 2019, 6:27 pm

<p>Google map of Antipas town, North Cotabato.</p>

Google map of Antipas town, North Cotabato.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Unidentified gunmen shot dead a pastor of United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in Antipas, North Cotabato on Friday, police said.

Citing police report from Antipas municipal police office, Lt. Colonel Bernard Tayong, speaking for North Cotabato police, identified the victim as Ernesto Estrella, 51, of Barangay Malatab, Antipas.

Tayong said the shooting occurred in an isolated portion of the barangay road at about 9:15 a.m.

He said Estrella was driving his motorbike alone heading to the town proper when one of two men aboard a separate motorbike coming from opposite direction shot him in the head.

“The victim died on the spot,” Tayong said, adding that investigation is ongoing as of posting time.

Among the angles that the police probers are looking at was the victim’s alleged links with leftist organizations.

Estrella’s wife told police investigators that her husband had no known enemies. (PNA)

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