Photo shows the Catholic Church in Doroluman, Arakan, North Cotabato where Bernabe “Bantito” Abanilla and his security escort were gunned down on Sunday, February 7 at around 8:00 in the morning. (Photo courtesy of Abner Francisco of CHARM Radio Kidapawan)
DAVAO CITY – The chief of the security force of the provincial government of North Cotabato was gunned down on Sunday morning, February 7 at around 8:00 a.m. in the town of Arakan.
Report from police authorities in the area said Bernabe Abanilla, popularly known as “Bantito” was about to alight from his Estrada pick-up vehicle to attend a Sunday worship at the Catholic Church in Barangay Doroluman when fired upon by three unidentified gunmen.
Abanilla sustained multiple gunshot wounds in his body and was rushed to the Medical Specialist Hospital in Antipas town but expired while undergoing medication.
His bodyguard identified as alias Digul Semillano was also killed during the attack.
Reports from the local media in Kidapawan City said North Cotabato Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza also confirmed the death of the head of her security forces at the provincial capitol.
Governor Taliño-Mendoza also issued a statement through her Facebook account saying that “the murder of Abanilla is a great loss of a life of a man who was a dedicated family man and who was devoted to his work.”
The governor added that there is a graver reason for his death as this is not the first attempt to the life of the victim.
Authorities in the area are now conducting deeper investigations as to the motive of the killing.
Bantito is a former member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Arakan town and the former Barangay Captain of Doroluman. (davaotoday.com)
