No leads yet on village chief’s slay

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – Investigators have yet to gather leads on the killing of a village chief and his bodyguard in Pikit, North Cotabato last Thursday.

Senior Inspector Sindatu Karim, chief of the Pikit municipal police, said on Saturday an old grudge could be the motive for the murder of Dhatz Simon, chairman of Barangay Bulol, and his security escort, Akmad Bantas.

“We are also not discounting the possibility that the slain barangay chairman and his assailants were locked in a rido or clan war, triggered either by a land dispute or political rivalry,” Karim said.

The victims were on a motorcycle on their way home from the town proper when they were ambushed.

Relatives told reporters that Simon had asked the local police and military in Pikit to allow him to carry firearms due to threats to his life.

Karim said the assailants escaped, taking with them the victims’ guns.