Village chief gunned down in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY – A village chief was killed and his son was wounded when four armed men barged into their house in Purok Penin in Barangay Rosary Heights 6 here at past 8 pm Monday, police said.

Ben Okad Dilangalen, chair of Barangay Rosary Heights 6, was pronounced dead on arrival at a government hospital here while his son, Daran Abdullah Dilangalen, 19, survived, said Insp. Leonardo Enggay, the deputy police station 2 chief. 

Enggay said suspects Engako Esmael and his sons Datu Not Emil and Joharie Amil were later arrested but two other suspects, Juharie Abang and his brother, remained at large. Scene of the crime operatives found six empty shells from a .45 cal. pistol.

Engay said Esmael and his son were armed with bladed weapons while Juharie had a handgun he allegedly used to shoot Dilangalen.

Barangay officials said the suspects were allegedly involved in illegal activities in the village. “They were denied IDs being issued by the barangay because of  their alleged activities,” said Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi as she offered a P50,000 reward to those who can point to the two gunmen’s whereabouts.

Witnesses said the incident happened so quickly and that the suspects walked out of the house casually after the shooting.

GAL