3 farmers slain in Midsayap, Cotabato

COTABATO CITY – Three farmers were shot dead by still unidentified gunmen in Barangay Tugal, Midsayap, Cotabato Tuesday night, police said.

Lt. Colonel Benito Rotia, Midsayap town police chief, identified the victims as Ogie Bantas, 40; Ismael Sumunsang, 40; and Mutalib Salungon. They all died on the spot due to multiple bullet wounds in their heads and bodies.

Rotia said the victims were walking home from a village irrigation system switch when two men aboard a motorcycle arrived and opened fire at past 7 p.m.

Police found empty shells of M-14 rifle on the crime scene.

Rotia said the victims went to the irrigation canal switch to divert water supply to their rice farms.

He said the attackers’ identities and the motive of the attack were still unknown.

Rotia said police were looking into three angles: misunderstanding over the water supply for the rice fields, rido (family feud), and suspicion that the victims were military informants. /lzb