SK chairman dead, relative, cop hurt in Cotabato City ambush

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Gunmen killed a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman and wounded two others, including a policeman, in an ambush at a busy thoroughfare in this city at noon on Saturday, October 4.

Prince Mohaz Rafsanjanie Matanog, SK chairman of Barangay Poblacion 5 and a third-year engineering student at Cotabato City State University, died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds.

His relative, Muamar Salvador Matanog, was seriously wounded in the attack.

The two were aboard a red Toyota Raize and were reportedly on their way to an undisclosed location when gunmen opened fire at the intersection of Jose Lim Sr. Street and Sinsuat Avenue — just a short distance from Cotabato City Police Precinct 1.

Also injured was Patrolman Norsaiden Laguiali, who was on duty and had responded to the incident when he was shot by the suspects.

The gunmen fled on motorcycles before police reinforcements arrived.

Cotabato City police director Col. Jibin Bongacayao and Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said investigators are coordinating with Matanog’s relatives and barangay officials to identify the assailants.

Police forensic teams recovered 92 empty bullet shells from the scene.