The first attack took place at 5:20 p.m. inside a cafeteria in Sinsuat Avenue, Poblacion 6 where Assib Ibrahim, the provincial commissioner of the Regional Reconciliation and Unification Council of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao chapter in Maguindanao was shot to death by a lone assassin.

Police said the victim was waiting for his food when suspect Castro Esmael, 26, shot him in the head without any provocation.

Policemen led by Insp. Efren Salazar arrested Esmael, a barangay watchman from Nayon Shariff, Rosary Heights 3, Cotabato City. Seized from him was a caliber .45 pistol.

The motive behind the killing of the official is still being investigated.

Ten minutes later, two motorcycle-riding gunmen fired at a group of government employees in front of a drug store in Sinsuat Avenue before fleeing.

The victims identified as Antelino Lubaya, 33, an employee of the City Engineers’ Office, Florence de Roma, 65, of the Cotabato Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bailyn Bandila, 35, an Administrative Assistant Office II at the Cotabato City Treasurer’s Office and Zalyudin Moson, of Datu Piang, Maguindanao sustained gunshot wounds. They were taken to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center for treatment.

Police said Bandila died while on the way to the hospital.           

The victims were on board a Town Ace van when they were attacked by the suspects in Sinsuat Avenue.

Police recovered several caliber .45 spent cartridges at the scene. The motive and identities of the suspects are still being established, said Police Regional Office 12 which will have a new director in the person of Chief Supt. Gil Meneses.

Meneses will replace Chief Supt. Catalino Khu, Jr.                   Alfred Dalizon