Bride’s father killed, groom hurt in Cotabato post-wedding rites attack

COTABATO CITY – Unidentified men shot dead the father of the bride and injured the groom in a daring shooting incident shortly after a Muslim wedding rites in a mosque inside the Mall of Alnor compound here this Thursday morning.

Chief Insp. Reynaldo Delatien, chief of Cotabato City police station 2, identified the fatality as Nasifh Abdullah Sampiano, 52, former village chair of Barangay Purakan, Balabagan, Lanao del Sur; and the injured as Abil Gampong Balindong, 35, resident of Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

The shooting occurred after the wedding rites of Balindong and Sampiano’s daughter inside the masjid at about 10:30 a.m., police said.

One of the gunmen, armed with 9mm pistol fired at Sampiano several times, hitting him in the head and body. Balindong was hit by stray bullets. Both were rushed to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center located across the mall.

Attending physicians declared Sampiano dead on arrival.

Police said the motive of the attack remains unknown as of posting.                       /kga