Google map of Cotabato City.
COTABATO CITY – A soldier was wounded following an ambush perpetrated by motorcycle-riding assailants here on Sunday.
Capt. Rustom Pastolero, Police Station 2 commander, identified the victim as Private First Class Ryan Jay Itao, 24, of Midsayap, North Cotabato.
Itao was on his motorbike traversing Demazenod St. heading towards Camp Siongco--the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in nearby Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao around 4 p.m. when fired upon by one of the unidentified gunmen riding-in-tandem.
“The soldier was hit in the shoulder and neck, causing him to fall off his motorbike,” Pastolero said, adding the attackers sped off towards an unknown direction as concerned citizens brought the victim to the hospital.
“We have yet to determine the motive of the attack,” Pastolero said.
Itao remains under close observation at an undisclosed hospital in the city, police said.
Following the incident, the police said it has increased visibility in the area and have set up more checkpoints in strategic places.
Last week, motorcycle-riding gunmen also ambushed and killed an Army personnel and wounded his back riding soldier-colleague in neighboring Midsayap, North Cotabato. (PNA)
