5 massacred in Kudarat

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – At least 10 armed men massacred a family of four and another one in Senator Ninoy Aquino town in Sultan Kudarat province on Saturday, authorities said.

Lt. Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman of the Army’s Eastern Mindanao Command based at Camp Panacan here, said the family of Jolie Fegurac was asleep when the gunmen, reportedly led by a certain Kinting Watamama, barged into their house in Barangay Midtungok and fired at them at around 3:45 a.m. Saturday.

Fegurac was slain along with his wife Josephine and their children Jonathan and Jerson, and a certain Benei Pelitro.

Watamama and his men were reportedly armed with M-16 Armalite and Garand rifles based on slugs and empty shells recovered at the crime scene.

Authorities said a long-standing land dispute or business rivalry could be behind the killing.

Investigators were still probing the incident while a massive manhunt for Watamama and his men was launched. – With John Unson