Ex-Army colonel killed in Cotabato ambush

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Two people, including a former Army colonel were killed in separate attacks by unidentified armed men in Cotabato on Friday.

Retired colonel Leonardo Songcaya was driving a pick-up truck in Matalam town when armed men waylaid him at the border of barangays Kidama and Poblacion.

Songcaya died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Lt. Col. Arniel Melocotones, Matalam police chief.

Melocotones said Songcaya was known for his involvement in humanitarian programs of local government units, particularly for retired Army soldiers and police officers based in Cotabato.

Matalam Mayor Oscar Valdevieso offered a reward of P500,000 for any information that can lead to the capture of the killers.

On the same day, a 40-year-old man identified as Jerry Agundar was killed in a similar attack in the nearby town of Libungan.

Reports said that Agundar and his wife were in a multicab when armed men waylaid them in Barangay Cabaruyan.

Responding police officers and village officials rushed Agundar’s wife to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.

Probers have yet to determine the motive for the attack.