COTABATO CITY – Authorities have initiated a manhunt for the assailants who fatally shot a former humanitarian worker on Sunday night along a busy street here.
Col. Querubin Manalang Jr., the city police director, identified the victim as Ramil Masukat, the former head of the relief and humanitarian agency of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“We are exploring various angles and possible motives. Our investigation is ongoing,” Manalang stated.
Masukat, 55, was seated in the back seat of a vehicle driven by a relative, traveling along Ramon Rabago Street at around 7 p.m. when motorcycle-riding gunmen attacked them.
He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.
Masukat, who also served as the municipal planning and development officer of Rajah Buayan town in Maguindanao del Sur, survived an ambush in November 2022 in Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak town.
His demise occurred five days after unidentified gunmen killed an employee of the BARMM’s Bangsamoro Transition Authority in the city.
Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman condemned Masukat's murder, urging the police to address the escalating violence.
“We condemn this brazen act of crime committed against Engineer Ramil, who at the time of his death was living a quiet life as a private citizen. May kaaway man o wala (With or without enemies), violence should not be tolerated in any form,” Hataman said in a statement on Monday.
He also expressed concern about the increasing violence, particularly in Cotabato City and other areas in BARMM.
“I call on the police authorities to go after Engineer Ramil’s killers. Putting away the perpetrators of this crime makes our communities a little safer. Kailangang managot ang mga kriminal at mastermind sa pagpatay kay Masukat (Criminals and mastermind of the killing of Masukat should be held liable),” he added. (with a report from Zaldy De Layola/PNA)
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