2 PCG men shot dead in Cotabato City; station chief unharmed

COTABATO CITY- Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel were shot dead by two unidentified gunmen along Roman Vilo Street in Poblacion 6 here at noon on Thursday.

Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR), identified the fatalities as Seaman Second Class Reniel Agpalo, a resident of Nueva Ecija, and Apprentice Seaman Louther John Vitor, a resident of Butuan City.

Both were assigned to the PCG Cotabato City Station.

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READ: Cotabato village councilman, brother killed in gun attack

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The two victims sustained gunshot wounds to the head.

Lt. Commander John Paul Cabarrubias, chief of the PCG Cotabato City Station, who was with the two personnel during the attack, was unharmed.

Based on the initial police report, the victims were aboard a maroon Toyota Innova with plate number JPC 0421 and were heading to their station when two gunmen riding a black Honda XRM motorcycle opened fire.

The suspects, who were reportedly wearing black clothing and masks, fired at both sides of the vehicle before fleeing.

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Police recovered seven empty shell casings believed to have come from a 9mm firearm at the crime scene.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that the attack was work-related or stemmed from a personal dispute.

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Personnel from Police Stations 1 and 4, the Mobile Patrol Unit, and the Cotabato City Mobile Force Company (CMFC) of the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) immediately launched follow-up operations to track down and arrest the suspects.

Security measures were also implemented in coordination with nearby police visibility points.