NORTH COTABATO, Philippines — A son of a former governor and four companions were killed in an alleged shootout Friday night with soldiers in a roadside checkpoint in Pikit town in this province. Responding police investigators and barangay officials identified the driver of the bullet-riddled vehicle as Hashiem Matalam, son of the late Norodin Matalam, former governor of Maguindanao province. Investigators said one of the four fatalities, Abdullah Mamalumpong, is a fugitive, one of more than 20 detainees who escaped from the North Cotabato provincial jail in Kidapawan City in a daring jailbreak more than a year ago. Matalam, Mamalumpong and their three companions, Botod Concon, Alex Sanduyugan and Ganto Pasandalan, all died on the spot from bullet wounds. The soldiers who figured in the shootout belong to the 7th Infantry Battalion, a component unit of 602nd Brigade.

Source: Philippine Star July 06, 2019 03:11 UTC