Sri Lankan businessman slain in Cotabato City gun attack

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY  – A Sri Lankan businessman was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman along a busy street here Thursday afternoon.

Captain Kenneth Rosales, Cotabato City police station 1 commander, identified the victim as Mohamed Rifard Mohamed Siddeek, 46, a Sri Lankan national residing in Barangay Semba of Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao.

Colonel Querubin Manalang Jr., Cotabato City police director, said a manhunt operation is still ongoing as of this posting.

Rosales said Siddeek had just alighted from his white mini-van along Don Rufino Alonzo Avenue in Barangay Poblacion Mother when a man approached him and opened fire without provocation.

Police found empty shells for caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene that is near the city mega market which is a densely populated area.

Witnesses told police probers that the gunman quickly fled on board a motorcycle driven by an accessory.

Civilians who know the victim said Siddeek was engaged in money lending and survived a gun attack in Barangay Broce of Datu Odin Sinsuat town last year.

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JMS