Cops, military hunt down Sultan Kudarat vice mayor's killers

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Police and military plainclothes operatives are in pursuit of two gunmen that shot dead a vice mayor of a Sultan Kudarat town Monday afternoon.

Vice Mayor Froilan Rufino of President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat was in their front yard when two gunmen riding a motorcycle in tandem pulled over, took turns shooting him with .9 mm pistols, killing him on the spot.

President Quirino is not far from known MILF enclaves in marshy areas in nearby Maguindanao province.

Senior Superintendent Benhur Mongao, director of the Sultan Kudarat provincial police, said relatives and responding policemen rushed Rufino to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mongao said Army and police agents are now helping each other determine the exact identities of the gunmen and the real motive for the attack.

Relatives have confirmed that Rufino has received death threats before he was killed.

Rufino was known for his being supportive of the police and military’s campaign against criminal and terrorist gangs.

“We’re doing everything to get to the bottom of this murder case. Let’s give our investigators enough time to wrap up their investigation,” Mongao said.