Ten people were killed and three others were injured including a
former vice governor in an exchange of fires in the south
Philippines' North Cotabato province, a military official said on
Wednesday.
The shootout occurred at around 9:45 AM on Wednesday morning
when the convoy of Norodin Matalam, former vice governor of the
neighboring Maguindanao province, was chased by armed
villagers.
"Matalam's escorts and the villagers got out of the vehicles and
opened fire against each other," said Col. Pedro Soria, commander
of the Army's 602nd Brigade.
Matalam and his wife survived the shootout but were injured. The
leader of the attacking villagers, Tayatog, and six of his men were
killed on the spot. Three men from the other side were also dead
after the crossfire, Soria said.
Soria said Matalam is recovering in the hospital and the cause
of the shootout is under investigation.
Local news network ABS-CBN News said Matalam belongs to an
influential Muslim political clan, and police are investigating
whether the attack was politically motivated.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)
