Farmer dead, companion hurt in Arakan town ambush

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Armed men gunned down a 70-year-old farmer and wounded another in an ambush in Arakan town Tuesday, police said.

Senior Inspector Rolly Oranza, chief of the Arakan town police, said the fatality, Rolando Sibonga, died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

Sibonga’s companion, Jose Tatoy, 45, who was wounded in the attack, was rushed by responding barangay officials and civilian volunteers to a local hospital.

Oranza said the victims were on their way to their adjoining farms in Barangay Gambodez when their ambushers appeared from one side of the market road and shot them with assault rifles.

Oranza said investigators are certain it was Sibonga, who was locked in a land dispute with certain farmers in Barangay Gambodez, who was the target of the ambush.

Oranza said the gunmen made sure Sibonga was dead by firing several shots even when the victim was already sprawled on the ground.

Tatoy, who was slightly wounded in the attack, is being interviewed by authorities about  the incident, according to Oranza.