Cotabato village chair, tanod killed in ambush

CARMEN, North Cotabato – One month before the barangay elections, unidentified gunmen ambushed a village chair and a village watchman here on Tuesday, in what police suspected was a politically-motivated attack.

Chief Inspector Julius Malcontento, Carmen police chief, said 56-year old Joaquin Sardon Segumban, 56, chair of Barangay Tonganon, and Joey Gmotia Gamarchia, 57, a village watchman, were killed in the 2:30 p.m. incident in Sitio Galay in Barangay Kibayao.

Chief Inspector Mikail Tan, head of North Cotabato Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), said Segumban died from nine gunshot wounds while Gamotia had five bullet wounds.

Malcontento said Segumban and Gemotia were heading for Barangay Poblacion on a barangay multicab when attacked.

Two suspects opened fire using cal.-45 pistols, Malcontento said.

Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, the acting North Cotabato police director, said the attack could be political. /cbb