Couple die in South Cotabato ambush

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Gunmen killed an Ilonggo couple in an ambush in Barangay Puti in Norala, South Cotabato on Thursday, December 5.

In separate reports released on Friday morning, December 6, the Norala Municipal Police Station and the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office stated that Rommel Crisostomo and his wife, Gina, were together in their tricycle when they were repeatedly shot with .45 caliber pistols by men positioned along their route.

Crisostomo and his wife were both declared dead on arrival by doctors in a hospital where barangay emergency responders brought them for treatment.

Randy Gardoce, chairman of Barangay Puti, told reporters that the Crisostomos were on their way home from the market when they were attacked by gunmen who had immediately escaped using getaway motorcycles.

Gardoce said they are helping officials of their municipal police force identify the culprits for prosecution.

Relatives of the victims had told reporters that both of them have no known enemies and are close to neighbors in Purok El Kuda, a predominantly Ilonggo area in Barangay Puti, where they have a house and an agricultural farm.