Kin says old grudge led to barangay chairman's murder in Mlang

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines  - Relatives of a barangay chairman in Mlang town gunned down Saturday by suspected hired killers are convinced an old grudge led to his murder.

The victim, Eduardo Panes, was re-elected last October 28 as chairman of Barangay Liboon in Mlang, a booming agricultural town in the southwest of North Cotabato province.

Panes was virtually unopposed in his bid for his third and last term, according to relatives.

Panes was driving his motorcycle in Barangay Bagontapay in the same town when one of two men riding another bike trailing behind shot him repeatedly with a pistol as they got close.

Panes, of Ilonggo descent, fell from his motorcycle and died on the spot.

Mlang’s municipal police chief, Inspector Rolando Dillera, said investigators still have no clue on the identities of the suspects and the  motive for the attack.

Relatives of Panes hinted that it has got to do with an old grudge. They did no elaborate.

“We just have to give our investigators enough time to get into the bottom of this incident. We should refrain from speculating,” Dillera said.