The mayor of Santo Niño in South Cotabato, who was accused by the government of being involved in illegal drugs, was shot dead at 7:30am today by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants.
Mayor Pablo Matinong Jr. was visiting the village of Poblacion to inspect a municipal project when he was gunned down by the suspects, who were riding pillion. A resident, who was speaking to the mayor before the shooting, was wounded in his shoulder.
Matinog sustained two gunshot wounds in his head and was rushed to the Doctor Luntao Clinic and Hospital for treatment but was declared dead on arrival.
Seven bullets were found in the scene of the crime.
Santo Niño police have already launched a manhunt to search for the gunmen. The cops said that although the mayor has been accused of having links to the illegal drug business, he may have been killed due to a personal grudge or to politics or business-related reasons.
Matinog denied that he was involved in drugs after being included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s narco-list in 2019. He said his inclusion in the list was just due to politics.
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