DAVAO CITY – A tribal leader and a Barangay council member in a remote village of the city were gunned down by still unidentified suspects on Saturday, July 1 at around 10:48 in the morning.
Initial police investigation revealed that the victims identified as Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Ernesto Linog Matalam 52 years old, from Sitio Namnam, Barangay Baganihan and Barangay Kagawad Joel Daguinsal Siawan, 37 one year old, resident of Purok 7, Pangudlutan, Barangay Baganihan, were on their way towards the national highway when the incident happened.
According to the police report, the two leaders spearheaded a ritual in a parcel of land at Sitio Bagong Silang, Baganihan, Marilog District, and when they were on their way towards the national highway, their companion suddenly heard gunshots hitting Kagawad Siawan and later IPMR Matalam respectively.
The police has yet to determine the motive behind the killings.
Members of the Marilog PNP, 1st CMFC, RPSB, MFB-XI Marilog Cluster 1 and Bravo Company of 27th IB are still conductingn pursuit operations to identify the suspects and arrest the suspects.-Paul T. Palacio
