Cop killed, 2 others hurt in Cotabato ambush

A police officer was killed while two other people, including his wife, were wounded when armed men attacked their residence in the southern Philippine province of Cotabato Friday night. Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz identified the fatality as SPO2 Vic Matias of the Criminal Investigation Department of the provincial police. Wounded in the shooting incident were the policeman's wife, Emma Matias, and a certain Anotnio Celestial. Based on an initial investigation, the victims were shot by two assailants riding a motorcycle in tandem at the Matias residence in Purok 4A at Barangay Ponte Vedra in Antipas town at about 8:30 p.m. The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Mr. Matias was declared dead on arrival. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the suspects identified as Antonio Asumbrado and Ronald Rodriguez. Recovered from them were a motorcycle without a license plate, a cal-45 pistol and two hand grenades. Antipas is a second-class municipality in the landlocked province of Cotabato. — TJD, GMA News