KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — A retired police officer, who was serving as the head of village watchmen in Tupi town, South Cotabato, was shot dead in an ambush on Friday afternoon, according to local authorities.
Lt. Richard Ho, deputy police chief of Tupi, identified the victim as 79-year-old retired Senior Police Officer 3 Teodorico Bastan, a resident of Barangay Datal Bob, Tboli town.
Police reported that Bastan was riding a motorcycle with his wife in Barangay Simbo, Tupi, when two assailants on another motorcycle, approaching from the opposite direction, opened fire at them.
The suspects quickly fled the scene after the attack.
“The victims were on their way home to Datal Bob in Tboli when the ambush occurred,” Ho said in an interview.
Bastan, who was also the head of the barangay tanods (peacekeepers) in Barangay Simbo, was struck by multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body, causing his death on the spot. His wife, though shocked, was unharmed.
Investigators found three empty shells from a .45-caliber firearm at the scene.
Ho mentioned that the motive for the attack might be linked to Bastan’s position as head of the village tanods. The police are continuing their investigation into the incident.