COTABATO CITY — Authorities here reported that a college dean, his nephew and a couple were killed in separate ambushes in Sultan Kudarat province last Thursday night.

Lebak town police chief Lt. Col. Joseph Galleto identified the slain school official as Henry Racho, 51, dean and sports coordinator of Notre Dame of Salaman College (NDSC)-Lebak, and his 17-year-old nephew, both residents of Barangay Cadiz, Kalamansig.

Police said that the victims were ambushed at about 5:30 p.m. while riding a motorcycle in Barangay Maregaeg, Lebak.

“It happened during a downpour,” Galleto said.

The teenager died at the scene, while Racho succumbed to his injuries an hour later at a hospital.

“Losing (Racho) left a wound,” said Father Charlie Celeste, NDSC president. “It’s the silence that fills the spaces where his voice used to be.”

Later in the day, Nestor Rondon and his wife, Marilou Rondon — both of Barangay Sangay, Kalamansig — were ambushed and killed in Purok Tambes, Barangay Sta. Clara, Kalamansig.

The couple was ambushed at about 5:45 p.m. while riding a motorcycle and investigators said that the motives for both attacks remain unknown.