Father shoots daughter after mistaking her for ‘aswang’

TANTANGAN, South Cotabato—The “aswang” scare that had been gripping many parts of Central Mindanao for weeks now took an ugly turn when a father accidentally shot to death his daughter, whom he mistook for the mythical creature.

The Tantangan police said the unfortunate incident happened at past 1 a.m. on Friday in Purok Malipayon in Barangay New Iloilo here.

Based on the facts of the incident, 16-year-old Nannette Sandigan, an incoming freshman student, was entering their house after attending a village dance party when shot by her father, Sonny, using a handgun.

The girl later died at a hospital in Koronadal City.

An uncle of the girl’s said she went out without the approval of her parents.

She was climbing up the roof of their house on her way to her bedroom when her father—who, like many residents here, had been hearing of aswang attacks in various areas—was roused from his sleep.

Unable to recognize her, the father fired a single shot from his .45-cal. pistol and hit her on the body.

“She was afraid her parents would get mad at her for sneaking out,” Abiks Sandigan, the uncle, said.

Residents here, the girl’s relatives said, were on guard after reports of aswang attacks had circulated.

There were even photos of supposed victims, from such areas as Maguindanao and North Cotabato, posted on Facebook.

Residents of Barangay Tapodoc in Aleosan, North Cotabato; and Barangay Poblacion in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, even started organizing village patrols against the suspected mythical creature even as authorities downplayed it as dog attacks. RC