South Cotabato mayor in Duterte’s drug list slain

MANILA, Philippines — A town mayor in South Cotabato who was included in President Duterte’s narco list was gunned down yesterday.

Sto. Niño Mayor Pablo Matinong Jr., 55, was inspecting an infrastructure project in Barangay Poblacion when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men at around 7:55 a.m., according to Soccksargen police spokesman Lt. Col. Lino Capellan.

Matinong was pronounced dead on arrival at the Doctor Luntao Clinic and Hospital.

A bystander, Analyn Avance, 42, was hit by a stray bullet and was taken to the same hospital for treatment.

Matinong was among the local chief executives whom Duterte tagged in the illegal drug trade in 2016.

Despite the allegations, which Matinong had denied, he won by a landslide in his reelection bid in 2019.

Probers are eyeing a grudge as the motive for the killing.

Prior to the incident, four men were shot dead in Pigcawayan in North Cotabato.

Police said Nor Baraguir, Muhalidin Amolan, Sahabudia Latip and Salahudin Usman were in a Toyota Innova when they were waylaid in Barangay Tubong.

In Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao, Sgt. Antonio Balasa and certain Bobby died in a roadside bombing on Thursday.

Initial investigation showed the bomb went off as a vehicle carrying police officers led by Maj. Erwin Tabora was passing.

Sgts. Larry Amoran and Guerrero Domingo and Cpls. Guia Mangrag and Clyde Peria were  wounded.

Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan offered a reward of P100,000 for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

In Negros Oriental, S/Sgt. Bobster Guillarawan of the First Provincial Mobile Force Company was gunned down in Barangay Poblacion, Siaton at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Investigations into the killings are ongoing.  Gilbert Bayoran