Barangay chairman in Maguindanao town shot dead

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  --- Suspected partisans shot dead a barangay chairman in Datu Hofer Ampatuan,  Maguindanao Tuesday, an incident feared to worsen conflict in the troubled  town.

The fatality, Judito Unao, chairman of Barangay Limpongo, died on the spot from gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

Unao was standing at their frontyard when one of two men riding a motorcycle together pulled over close to the victim opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun, killing Unao instantly.

Unao was a political supporter of their re-elected municipal mayor, Johayra Midtimbang Ampatuan, spouse of jailed former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan.

Army Col. Dickson Hermoso, public affairs chief of the 6th Infantry Division, said the responding combatants of their First Mechanized Brigade from Maguindanao’s nearby Shariff Aguak town chased, but failed to arrest the suspects.

Hermoso said the gunmen escaped toward Barangay Tuayan, also in Datu Hofer Ampatuan, riding their motorcycle.

Probers from the Maguindanao police are still investigating on the identities of the gunmen and their motive for killing Unao.

Hermoso said Army officials in the area have sent emissaries to convince leaders of the Unao clan to let the police investigate on the incident and prosecute the culprits.

Hermoso said elders of the Unao family have also been toldt to refrain from carrying out any retaliation for the murder of their kin.