Brigada Group security agency head shot dead in General Santos

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – Unidentified gunmen shot dead the head of a security agency owned by media network Brigada Group of Companies here Wednesday night, the second victim from the company in six days.

Police Capt. Abdulsalam Mamalinta, acting chief of the city Police Station 4, identified the victim as Demar Santos, 37, the manager of Brigada Group’s subsidiary Global Dynamic Star Security Agency.

He said Santos was driving his pickup past 6 p.m. Wednesday in Purok 5 Tagumpay Intake, Barangay Mabuhay when gunned down by assailants.

An investigation is ongoing on the motive and the possible suspects, he said in his report Thursday to Police Col. Gilberto Tuzon, city police director.

The incident happened less than a week after Brigada Group executive office director and chief of staff Yentez Quintoy, 39, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen while on her way home aboard her vehicle in Barangay San Isidro here last June 4.

Police announced last Monday the arrest of Global Dynamic’s administrative officer Ralph Gerald Sorabia, 27, who was tagged as the gunman in the Quintoy murder.

Elmer Catulpos, Brigada Group president and chief executive officer, condemned Santos’ killing, which he described as an “ambush.” “(Santos) was a father who had dreams for his children, his life cut short that easy by those criminals,” he said in a statement.

He said this latest incident happened as they are still reeling from Quintoy’s murder last week, which was pinned on another company employee.

Catulpos assured that Brigada will fully cooperate with the investigation and assist authorities in ensuring their swift resolution.