COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The driver of a town mayor was killed and a policeman was wounded Sunday night during a shootout between two groups of men at a karaoke bar in Maguindanao’s Parang town.
The fatality was identified as Parih Sidun, driver of Mayor Nasser Imam of Matanog town in the first district of Maguindanao. Police Officer 1 Abdullah Hashim was wounded in the shooting.
Sidun and his companions, including another policeman, were having a drinking spree when they had an altercation with the group led by Hashim.
“We are still investigating the incident. We need to know the names of all the people, from both sides, who figured in this firefight. Sadly, the potential witnesses are reluctant to help us for fear of reprisals,†Senior Inspector Herry Gubat, chief of Parang police, said.