Cop, 4 civilians hurt in clash between 2 Cotabato City partisan groups

COTABATO CITY — Four civilians and a police officer were injured in a shootout between supporters of two rival political groups in Barangay Rosary Heights 10, Cotabato City, on Sunday night, May 11.

Senior officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region told reporters on Monday morning, May 12, that the incident left Corporal Deniel Gabucayan of the Cotabato City Police Mobile Force Company-Cotabato City Police Office and four individuals wounded.

The injured Gabucayan, Jomar Salik, Johaita Kanakan, Dennis Mamalangkay and Jomar Maton were all immediately brought to a hospital by policemen and government emergency responders for treatment.

Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Cotabato City police director, had separately told reporters that personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-5 and policemen had detained more than 30 male suspects reportedly involved in the gunfight.

Barangay officials and residents said the two groups involved are linked to rival regional political parties fielding candidates in Cotabato City’s local elections.