N. Cotabato b’gay poll bets forge peace pact

COTABATO CITY – The police forged yesterday a truce between two candidates for barangay chairman in North Cotabato after followers of one of them attacked the campaigners of the other, killed one and wounded four in a daylight shooting frenzy.

Senior Superintendent Nestor Camba, director of the North Cotabato police, said supposedly “blood relatives” Rosando Alamada and Ganih Alamada, both candidates for barangay chairman of Patot, a hinterland community in Pigka­wayan town, signed the covenant in the presence of religious leaders and local officials.

Camba said the signing of the peace covenant, held at the town hall of Pigkawayan, was also witnessed by representatives of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion, which has jurisdiction over Barangay Patot and surrounding villages.

 “Despite the signing by the two protagonists of the peace covenant, people in the area want the police and the military to be present there during the elections tomorrow,” Camba said.

Rosando survived an assassination attempt Thursday, but his campaign manager, Soltero Tanngote, who was shot was not as lucky.

Four supporters of Rosando sustained gunshot wounds in the attack and are now undergoing medication at a hospital.

Local officials said Rosando and his companions were holding a dialogue with voters in Barangay Patot when followers of Gani, brandishing M16 and M14 assault rifles, approached and opened fire.

The attackers fled to a nearby cornfield after the attack.