File photo of Nelson Mantawil, slain while on duty at Dinaig District Hospital in Maguindanao. (Image from his FB page)
DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – A man whose son was confined in a government hospital here shot dead a nurse on duty following an argument inside the health facility Thursday morning, police said.
Maj. Reggie Abellera, speaking for the police in Maguindanao, identified the slain nurse as Nelson Mantawil, 35, a resident of Barangay Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
A woman, Nerrisa Mantawil, was hit by stray bullets. It was unclear if she was related to the slain nurse, police said.
Abellera also identified the gunman as Bots Nur Manalao, a resident of Barangay Dalican, who had a child confined in the Dinaig District Hospital.
Abellera, quoting a report from Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, said Manalao was looking for the physician on duty at 6 a.m. because his son was in pain. Since no physician was around, nurse Mantawil talked to Manalao and a heated argument ensued.
“It appeared there was an argument and the suspect pulled his pistol and shot Mantawil four times,” Abellera said, quoting a police report. The gunman used a caliber .45 pistol.
“The suspect quickly fled,” Abellera said in a radio interview, adding that negotiation between the victim’s family and the suspect’s family was ongoing. “They all live in Barangay Dalican and probably they knew each other,” Abellera said. Other hospital workers said that the nurse and his attacker knew each other. Abellera said the hospital security guard was taken for questioning.
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