KIDAPAWAN CITY–Police authorities in North Cotabato have launched a manhunt against two suspects in the killing of a Pakistani moneylender in Carmen, North Cotabato, on Wednesday.
“We have initial information on the identities of the suspects, in due time they will be behind bars,” said Supt. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesperson.
The victim, identified as Hazrat Hussain, 26, moneylender and a resident of Hi Park Drive, Baliwasan District, Tabuk, Zamboanga City, died on the spot during the 9 a.m. Wednesday shooting along Zayre Highway, Barangay Poblacion, Carmen.
Tayong said Hussain had just arrived and parked his motorbike to collect money from a roadside store when the suspects shot him.
The perpetrators then fled with the victim’s motorbike and his sling bag containing an undetermined amount of cash.
Following the Pakistani national’s killing, Tayong has appealed to all foreigners in the province to coordinate with the local police whenever they visit far-flung communities to avoid becoming easy target of robbers.
Only two days earlier, Indian businessman Dhaliwal Jaswinder, 43, of Barangay Boragay, Kidapawan City, was allegedly killed by another Indian trader in Makilala, North Cotabato. The suspect, his business partner, is under police investigation.
On October 30 last year, retired US Marine officer Michael Keith, 60, was killed by gunmen in Pikit, North Cotabato, while about to deliver bread and pastries at a store. The suspect took his bag containing PHP200,000 cash.
On October 25, also last year, gunmen shot dead Pakistani moneylender Etesham Ulhag, 30, while his Filipino companion, Chris Espartero, was injured. The duo had just arrived on a motorbike in Barangay Dalingaoen, Pikit, to collect money when the suspects attacked and then fled with the victim’s motorbike. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
