AMBUSHED. An Indian money lender, Jaspreet Singh, 31, lay dead on the national highway in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur ambushed by still unidentified gunmen on Sunday (Nov. 26, 2023). Police investigators are eyeing robbery as a possible motive. (Photo courtesy of Datu Paglas MPS)
LEBAK, Sultan Kudarat – Two foreign nationals engaged in money lending business were killed in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao del Sur provinces over the weekend, police officials said Monday.
On Sunday morning, unidentified gunmen shot dead Jaspreet Singh, an Indian national while driving his motorbike in Damalusay, Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao del Sur.
Capt. Nurjasier Sali, Datu Paglas municipal police chief, said Singh, 30, of Makilala, North Cotabato, was rushed by responding police to the Buluan District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“Investigation is still in progress. We are digging deeper, robbery is among the possible motives but we are looking at other angles,” Sali said in a radio interview Monday.
Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen also shot dead a Pakistani national in Barangay Salaman of this town at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Lt. Colonel Julius Malcontento, Lebak municipal police station chief, identified the victim as Arshad Taraz Khan, 23, a resident of Barangay Poblacion 3 here.
“He was collecting money for his lending business from several clients when attacked,” Malcontento said in a report released also on Monday.
The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, the report added.
Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, police regional director for the Soccsksargen region, has directed the Sultan Kudarat police provincial office and Lebak municipal police station to prevent attacks against foreign nationals in the region.
The two were the latest reported victims of gun attacks as motorcycle-riding in tandem gunmen also shot dead an Indian national who was in the money lending business while he was cruising onboard his motorbike along the national highway Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur last Nov. 11. (PNA)
