North Cotabato guv condemns killing of provincial civil security chief, aide

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 8): North Cotabato guv condemns killing of provincial civil security chief, aide

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza has condemned Sunday's assassination of provincial capitol civil security unit chief Bernabe Abanilla and his bodyguard in Arakan, North Cotabato.

At the same time, Mendoza directed the Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum, provincial police director, to identify and arrest the suspects to give appropriate justice to Abanilla whom she described as a "dedicated public servant."

Police are looking at the possible involvement of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in the murder of Abanilla who was about to enter the Catholic Church in Barangay Doruloman, Arakan, North Cotabato at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Abanilla and Degul Semillano, his bodyguard, had just arrived at the church compound when three suspects, riding on motorbikes, sped away while firing several shots at them.

Churchgoers and civilians rushed the two to the hospital in Arakan town but both were declared dead on arrival.

Chief Insp. Felix Fornan, Arakan town police chief, said the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered empty shells for cal. 45 pistol.

Nobody claimed responsibility for the incident, the second attempt on Abanilla's life.

In 2012, Abanilla survived an assassins' bullet when gunmen, also on board a motorbike, fired at him while inside his vehicle parked in front of a drug store in Kidapawan City.

A known anti-communist advocate, Abanilla, according to Mendoza had been working for the safety of all government workers inside the provincial capitol here.

In condemning the incident, Gov. Mendoza believed there must be deeper reasons why Abanilla was killed.

She directed the police to take measures that will prevent similar incidents in the future against provincial officials or anybody in North Cotabato.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=854845