Trader slain in daylight attack

KIDAPAWAN CITY – An unidentified assailant gunned down a trader in broad daylight in Kabacan, North Cotabato Thursday.

Superintendent Leo Ajero, chief of the Kabacan police, identified the victim as Felomino Albutra, 51, of Poblacion, Kabacan.

Albutra was driving his motorcycle when flagged down at corner of Lapu-Lapu st. and national highway in Kabacan around 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Albutra's wife told police her husband's sling bag, with a still undetermined cash inside, was missing.

However, the victim's other bag, with cash amounting to P100,000 and a gun, was intact, Ajero said.

Police is also eyeing personal grudge as among the motives.

"Considering the style in the killing, we saw a different angle -- not just robbery. So, we're digging deeper our probe on this case," he stressed.

Using witnesses' account, investigators hinted the suspect, also on board a motorcycle, followed his target from the house until he reached the highway.

Relatives, however, do not have clues if the victim had an altercation with somebody else that would warrant his death.

The victim suffered gunshot wounds on his head and different parts of his body.

The police recovered from the crime scene slugs from .45 caliber pistol, which the gunman used.