Barangay chairman shot dead in North Cotabato
NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Gunmen on Tuesday killed an influential chairman of a vote-rich barangay in Pikit town in the first district of North Cotabato in what seemed to be a politically-motivated attack.
The fatality, Datu Pexon Mangansakan, chairman of Barangay Silik, and his wife, Marela, were on board a vehicle en route to the town proper of Pikit when gunmen riding motorcycles trailing behind opened fire as they got close.
Mangansakan, who sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of his body, died on the spot. His wife survived the shooting frenzy unscathed.
Superintendent Bernard Tayong, spokesman of the North Cotabato provincial police, said witnesses saw the culprits following the vehicle of the Mangansakans minutes before shots rang.
The suspects hurriedly sped away when they sensed that the shots they fired triggered a commotion among people in houses along the road.
Mangansakan is an elder of Pikit’s vice mayor, Don Mangansakan, who is a candidate for municipal mayor.
Two other barangay officials in the municipality were also killed last year by gunmen in attacks that remain unsolved.
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