DEAD END. Two suspects lay dead following a shootout with Cotabato City police on Sinsuat Avenue on Monday night, Nov. 21, 2002. At least two shooting victims were killed and two others were hurt in a series of gun attacks in the city on the same night. (Photo courtesy of DXMS - Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY – Four persons were killed while two others were hurt in a series of shootings here Monday night, police said.
Lt. Col. Carmelo Mungkas, the city police spokesperson, identified the four slain as Norhamin Usman Guiadel, 23; a certain Rasiden Angas; and the two shooting suspects as Naif Kasim, 22, and Lamudin Mohammad, 26.
Mungkas said Guiadel was shot by two motorcycle riding assailants on Dorotheo Street at 6 p.m.
“Guiadel, a resident of Bulalo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, died on the spot,” he said in a media interview Tuesday.
At 6:30 p.m., Angas was also shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside a fastfood outlet on Sinsuat Avenue, Barangay Rosary Heights 10.
“His (Angas) lady companion was injured,” he said.
Meanwhile, a 40-year-old staffer of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), Rahib Payapat of Barangay Bagua 2, was shot by unidentified assailants while driving a government pick-up vehicle on Sinsuat Avenue at 7 p.m.
Upon receiving information on the incidents, Mungkas said police personnel were sent to go after the perpetrators.
“In one instance, police were pursuing two men on a motorbike believed to be behind the shooting at a (food) outlet when the suspects opened fire on responding police officers,” he said.
“After they shot at our law enforcers, police were forced to return fire, killing them in the process,” Mungkas said.
He said Payapat is now undergoing medication.
The woman hurt in the Angas shooting also remained in the hospital.
Mayor Bruce Matabalao condemned the shootings and directed the police to arrest the perpetrators.
He also appealed to the residents “not to put political color in the series of shootings” and help instead the police prevent crimes in whatever way possible. (PNA)
