Village council member shot dead in Cotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The member of the council of  Barangay (village) Rosary Heights 9 here was shot dead by a suspected gun-for-hire on Tuesday, the police said.

Rafael Japal Kasim became the second barangay or neighborhood official here killed by suspected hired assassins this December, according to Cotabato City police director Senior Superintendent Danny Reyes.

Reyes said Kasim was in a vulcanizing shop when he was shot by an unidentified gunman at around 11 a.m.

The gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by another man.

Reyes said Kasim suffered four gunshot wounds.

On December 14, a Poblacion Dos councilor was also shot dead by a lone gunman.

Reyes said in both incidents, the police suspected that guns-for-hire were involved.

“We are still investigating what prompted the killings. But, for sure, these were personal and could also be political,” he said.