Mindanao gun attacks kill 5

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Five people were killed including a one-year-old boy in separate gun attacks in Central Mindanao on Monday.

Among the fatalities was Muslim preacher Alim Saad Casad Abdulhamid, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Buldon, Maguindanao del Norte.

Witnesses said the assailants managed to escape before responding police and barangay officials arrived at the scene of the attack, which occurred in Barangay Mataya.

Abdulmahid was the ninth preacher killed in separate attacks that have occurred in Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro region since January.

Meanwhile, Ali Madsid Mling and Akmad Pendililang, were killed in an ambush in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur.

Mling and Pendililang were traveling on a motorcycle when armed men waylaid them in Barangay Poblacion at past 9 p.m.

Two hours after the fatal attack on Mling and Pendililang, farmer Norhan Mangulamas and his one-year-old son were killed in another ambush in Pikit, Cotabato.

Mangulamas was driving a tricycle with his wife and son on board when the assailants opened fire at them in Barangay Dalingaoen.

Responding barangay officials rushed Mangulamas’ wife to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center for treatment of gunshot wounds.