By Ali Macabalang
KIDAPAWAN CITY – A candidate for Maguindanao provincial board member and her grandson were shot dead by still unidentified gunmen Sunday afternoon at the Kabacan public market in North Cotabato.
The police identified the fatalities as Susan Baldestamon-Montawal and her grandson, Datu Harris, both residents of Montawal town in Maguindanao’s second district.
Initial police investigation showed that the victims were boarding a public utility van at the public transportation terminal in Kabacan when they were shot by two gunmen at aorund 4 p.m.
The victims were declared dead on arrival at the Kabacan Medical Specialist Hospital.
Two bystanders were injured by stray bullets.
Montawal, who was set to seek a seat in Maguindanao’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan, was married to Manontok Bao-Montawal, a former vice mayor and close relative of the incumbent mayor and vice mayor of the municiplaity of Montawal, it was learned.
“Susan (Montawal) was a candidate but we could not say whether or not her killing has political undertone,” a police investigator said.
Further investigation is ongoing.