Cops hunt killers of trader, school exec

“She is not a practicing medical doctor but more of a businesswoman,” Octavio said.
The shooting occurred along the road leading to the regional center for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). (Google maps)

COTABATO CITY— Police are hunting down gunmen who shot and killed in separate incidents Monday a businesswoman in this city and a school district supervisor in nearby Midsayap, North Cotabato.

In an interview, Sr. Supt. Rolly Octavio, Cotabato City police director, said gunmen shot dead Dr. Amalia Gutierrez, 58, of Gov. Gutierrez Avenue in Barangay Rosary Heights 9,this city.

Gutierrez was on board her Ford Everest (KEL-921) with her driver, Alexander Cuanan, 22, of Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, when the shooting took place.

Octavio said Gutierrez, separated from her husband, was a graduate of medicine, but did not take the board.

“She is not a practicing medical doctor but more of a businesswoman,” Octavio said.

The shooting occurred along the road leading to the regional center for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a busy thoroughfare during the time of the incident, according to Senior Inspector Reynaldo Delatien, police station 2 chief.

Delantien said Cuanan told investigators that he had just parked the Ford Everest when he heard gun burst at around 4:30 p.m.

Seeing Gutierrez shot, Cuanan ran for his life and hid in a nearby store.

Witnesses said Gutierrez tried to run from the vehicle but the gunman fired more shots. The killer sped off aboard a motorbike driven by a companion.

“We are looking at different angles as to the motive, our investigation is going on,” Octavio said.

Earlier on same day in Midsayap town, motorcycle riding-in-tandem gunmen also shot dead Bernard Viloan, a newly-designated school district supervisor.

Supt. Gilbert Tuzon, Midsayap town police chief, said Viloan, supervisor of Department of Education South-West district, had just finished lunch with a school principal at an eatery at around 1:30 p.m. in Barangay Rangaban, when fired upon by the gunmen in the head and body using .45 cal. pistols.

He died on the spot while his companion was unharmed. Viloan’s predecessor as supervisor was also shot dead last year in the same village. Tuzon said they are still looking closely into Viloan’s case.