Two councilors were gunned down in separate incidents in Hermosa, Bataan and Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao Saturday.
Police identified the victims as neophyte Hermosa Councilor Danilo Basi, 63, and Datu Abdullah Sangki Councilor Nurhasim Ulangkaya, 28.
Basi, a businessman before he ran for office and resident of Barangay Mambog, Hermosa, was walking on his way home from his farm when four men onboard a car appeared. One of them drew a firearm and shot the victim several times. The suspects fled towards Orani, Bataan.
“The victim succumbed to 11 gunshot wounds in different parts of his body,” said Bataan police chief Senior Supt. Benjamin Silo Jr.
Police described the killing as well planned by an organized gun-for-hire group from outside Bataan.
“We learned that aside from the four suspects aboard the car, they have another back up vehicle following them. So it is a well-planned, well-financed killing but we will go after them,” said Hermosa police chief Chief Insp. Emil dela Cruz.
Bataan Gov. Abet S. Garcia and Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton have offered a cash reward of P1.3 million to anyone who could provide information leading to the identities and arrest of the suspects.
Sultan Kudarat police director Senior Supt. Raul Supiter said Ulangkaya was shot dead while attending the wedding of a relative in Tacurong City.
Investigation showed that the victim was about to enter the wedding venue when a man posing as one of the guests approached him.
The gunman pulled out a gun and fired at the victim. Ulangkaya sustained two bullet wounds, killing him on the spot.
A guest, Norma Karatuan, 52, standing behind Ulangkaya was hit by a stray bullet.
The suspect fled onboard a motorcycle driven by an unidentified companion waiting for him outside.
Police are eyeing politics as a possible motive behind the killing. (Mar T. Supnad and Joseph Jubelag)