1 dies, another hurts in Sultan Kudarat highway attack

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Unidentified gunmen shot dead a suspected hired killer and wounded another along the highway in Lambayong town in Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday, an official said.

Senior Superintendent Rolen Balquin, provincial police director in Sultan Kudarat, identified the slain victim as Tacio Mamaluba, 46, of Barangay Lumabao, General SK Pendatun, Maguindanao.

Mamaluba was hit on the head and died on the spot, Balquin said.

The victim's wife, Bai, was the one that took the body of Mamaluba and buried him in a Muslim rite, reports said.

Another motorist, Maliga Mamaluba, 33, of Barangay Angkayamat, Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, was seriously wounded and was rushed at the Sultan Kudarat Doctors Hospital in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat for treatment, the official said.

Balquin, citing reports from Lambayong police, said the victims were on board a motorcycle when gunmen on board a Pajero vehicle sprayed bullets onto them when they reached Barangay Maligaya in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday.

Reports reaching the Lambayong Police Station said that the suspects were behind the killing last week of a village chieftain in Lambayong town.

The slain chieftain of Barangay Pembalayan, Lambayong was only identified in his surname as Pablo.

The Mamalubas, according to police investigation, were former members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Units under the Army's 38th Infantry Battalion.

Police are still determining if the killing of Pablo and the attack on the Mamalubas are linked to each other.