COTABATO City-- Police operatives in North Cotabato, backed by the military, are hunting down two men who shot dead a Maguindanao village chieftain on Monday, police said yesterday. Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for the North Cotabato police office, said Melly Pinagayao, 44, village chief of Barangay Lasangan, Gen. SK Pendatun, Maguindanao, was driving his motorbike alone heading toward home when shot by one of two men along Magsaysay Street, M'lang, North Cotabato at past 10 a.m. "Alone, unarmed, Chairman Pinagayao died instantly," Tayong said, adding that no group has claimed responsibility for the killing. He said Maguindanao village officials seldom travel alone and without firearms. Tayong said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body from a cal. 45 pistol. Witnesses said the gunmen were in black sweat shirt and wearing bull caps. Tayong said after receiving report about the shooting, the M'lang PNP backed by military personnel conducted hot pursuit operation in a nearby village where the suspects were seen fleeing.