COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Two persons were killed and two others wounded in Pikit town, Cotabato when a groping incident led to blows and gunplay early Monday afternoon, November 6.
Pikit police chief Romy Castañares said Sammy and Rahima Emba were in a cell phone repair shop when fish vendor Abdulnasser Malibato touched Rahima’s buttocks.
This triggered an argument that led to a fistfight that turned deadly when Malibato pulled out a .45 caliber pistol and opened fire, hitting the couple and vendor Hamsa Pagayao and farmer Alagasu Budtong, who were trying to pacify the protagonists.
Malibato was immediately arrested by responding police and Army personnel.
Sammy Emba and Pagayao later died in the hospital where the victims were rushed.