Missionary shot dead in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines -- Unidentified gunmen shot dead Monday night a missionary of the Pentecostal Church in Alamada town in the province.

Reynaldo Manganyan Gutoman, 43, died from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained from the attack.

The victim and members of his family had just emerged from the church where he helped preside over a congregational prayer when a lone gunman, armed with an M-16 assault rifle, approached and opened fire, hitting him in different parts of his body.

Gutoman was declared dead on arrival by medical personnel of a hospital in nearby Midsayap town, also in North Cotabato, where he was rushed by responding barangay officials and policemen.

Senior Inspector Joeffrey Todenio, chief of the Alamada municipal police, said investigators are still clueless on the identity of the gunman and his motive for killing Gutoman.

The suspect casually walked away from the scene and disappeared, according to witnesses.