N. Cotabato university’s security chief gunned down

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – Motorcycle-riding men gunned down the security director of the state-run University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan town here last Tuesday night.

USM president Francisco Garcia said police investigators were still determining the motive behind the killing of 43-year-old Ronald Lopez, who was also a faculty member.

Superintendent Jordine Maribojo, Kabacan police chief, said Lopez was driving his motorcycle on his way to the school’s motorpool, behind the vehicle of another professor, veterinarian Cayetano Pomeras, when he was shot.

The USM has been rocked by recent bombings and shooting incidents, amid the protracted squabble over its presidency.

Garcia said he has asked the local police to deploy more policemen around the 6,000-hectare USM campus to prevent a repeat of Tuesday’s night’s incident that triggered panic among students and teachers.