Soldier tagged in fatal shooting of Ampatuan kin

COTABATO CITY—A soldier allegedly shot dead a nephew of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Ampatuan town Friday night, police and relatives said.

Shariff Ampatuan, Maguindanao provincial board member, said his son Norton, 28, sustained multiple gunshot wounds from .45 cal. pistol and died on the spot. His buddy, Juhail Unting, was wounded.

Inspector  Zulkarnain Qunakon, Ampatuan police chief, said Norton and Unting were about to enter a videoke house in Barangay Kauranat at around 9 p.m. Friday when the shooting happened.

Shariff Ampatuan said his son decided not to enter the videoke house where there were guest relations officers “because the bar was already full with customers.”

“The soldier tried to convince him to come inside but my son refused (and) there he was shot,” the father said, quoting witnesses.

After the shooting, the soldier left.

Ampatuan, who is running for mayor of Shariff Aguak, said the gunman belonged to the 45th Infantry Battalion based in Ampatuan.

“We have the name of the soldier-suspect but our family is waiting for the result of the investigation,” Ampatuan said, adding that the 45th IB battalion commander had extended his condolences to the family.

Norton is the nephew of Andal Ampatuan Sr., a principal suspect in the Nov. 2009 Maguindanao massacre that claimed the lives of 58 persons, including 31 journalists and supporters of Ampatuan’s political rival, former Buluan Mayor and now Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.