Ex-gov’s son, 4 others slain in shootout with soldiers

NORTH COTABATO  , Philippines  —   A son of a former governor and his four companions were killed in an alleged shootout with soldiers in Pikit town in this province on Friday night.

Maj. Arvin Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, said the suspects were in a Nissan Patrol when they drove past a checkpoint manned by soldiers of the 7th Infantry Battalion along the highway.

Encinas said soldiers at an adjacent checkpoint in Barangay Inug-ug, who were alerted about the SUV, reported that the suspects also refused to pull over and instead opened fire.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Hassem Matalam, whose late father Norodin was former governor of Maguindanao and former mayor of Pagalungan town.

Probers said one of the fatalities, Abdullah Mamalumpong, was among those who escaped from the provincial jail in Kidapawan City more than a year ago.

The three other fatalities were identified as Botod Concon, Alex Sanduyugan and Ganto Pasandalan.

“Apparently there was extreme provocation that Army personnel were forced to engage them in a gunfight,” Encinas said.

In a report to the Westmincom and the 6th Infantry Division, Brig. Gen. Alfredo Rosario of the 602nd Infantry Brigade said an M16 rifle, two M653, an M1911, a hand grenade, a rifle grenade, sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the fatalities.