COTABATO CITY -- Two separate shooting incidents here wounded a Marine officer and killed a “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) driver, police said.
Citing a report from the Cotabato City police, Lt. Col. Lino Capellan, speaking for the Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen), said Marine Cpl. Brenston Balderas was wounded in a shooting incident that transpired along the junction of Notre Dame Avenue and Don Cesar Street at past 10 a.m. Thursday.
The 33-year-old Balderas, who is assigned in Barira, Maguindanao, was driving a motorbike when two men on board another motorbike tailed and shot him before speeding off towards an unknown direction, said Maj. Glenn Avisa, city police station 1 commander.
Balderas sustained a gunshot wound in the neck and was confined at a government hospital here.
On Wednesday night, gunmen on a motorbike shot dead a “habal-habal” driver in Spring Site, Barangay Bagua 3, this city at about 7 p.m.
Police identified the victim as Amid Asi Andatuan, 24, a resident of the same village.
Initial investigation showed that Andatuan was sitting under a waiting shed when two men arrived and without provocation, shot him.
He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. Police found empty shells from a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.
Police investigators believed the shooting of Balderas was work-related while that of Andatuan stemmed from a personal grudge. (PNA)
Marine officer hurt, ‘habal-habal’ driver killed in gun attacks
By Noel Punzalan and Edwin Fernandez
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