MANILA, Philippines, Nov 27, (Agencies): Over the weekend, tragic incidents unfolded in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao del Sur as two foreign nationals engaged in the money lending business met untimely deaths, as reported by the police on Monday.

In the first incident on Sunday morning, Jaspreet Singh, a 30-year-old Indian national from Makilala, North Cotabato, was fatally shot while riding his motorbike in Damalusay, Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao del Sur. The unidentified gunmen targeted Singh, and despite immediate efforts by responding police to rush him to Buluan District Hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police Capt Nurjasier Sali, the Datu Paglas municipal police chief, stated that the investigation is ongoing, with robbery considered among the potential motives, although other angles are also being explored.

In another unfortunate event on Saturday at 5 pm, unidentified gunmen took the life of Arshad Taraz Khan, a 23-year-old Pakistani national. The incident occurred in Barangay Salaman, where Khan was attacked while collecting money for his lending business from various clients. Despite being swiftly taken to the hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police Lt Col Julius Malcontento, the Lebak municipal police station chief, provided details of the incident in a report released on Monday.

Expressing concern over these distressing occurrences, Police Brig Gen Jimili Macaraeg, the director of Police Regional Office-12, directed the Sultan Kudarat police provincial office and Lebak municipal police station to take preventive measures against potential attacks targeting foreign nationals in the region.

These two tragic incidents mark the latest in a series of gun attacks targeting individuals involved in the money-lending business. A similar incident occurred on Nov 11, where an Indian national, also engaged in money lending, fell victim to motorcycle-riding gunmen on the national highway in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.