Cop, female companion shot dead in Mati City

TAGUM CITY–Gunmen shot dead a policeman and his female companion in Mati City, Davao Oriental, on Monday night, police said.

Senior Supt. Jose Carumba, Davao Oriental police chief, identified the slain cop as PO3 Edwin Somono, warrant officer of Mati City police station.

The other victim was still unidentified as of posting time.

Supt. Antonio Rivera, Southern Mindanao police spokesman, said the incident happened in Don Luis Village, near Marriet’s Hotel in Barangay (village) Central, around 7:45 p.m.

Somono and his companion were returning to his rented boarding house after taking a walk outside when attacked by two unidentified suspects, Carumba told the Inquirer by text message.

“The assailants who apparently waited for the victims at the boarding house fled on a motorcycle after the shooting,” said Carumba, adding the victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

An investigation into the motive and identity of the suspects was underway, said the police official.