BULLET RIDDLED. A police officer points to the bullet holes in the windshield of the teacher’s car after the 7 a.m. ambush on Thursday (June 8, 2023) in Datu Anggal Midtimbang town in Maguindanao del Sur. The teacher, identified as Israel Paquital of the Datu Anggal Midtimbang Elementary School, was seriously wounded in the incident. (Photo courtesy of Datu Anggal Midtimbang MPS)
TALAYAN, Maguindanao Sur – Unidentified gunmen ambushed and seriously injured a public school teacher in Maguindanao del Sur while he was heading for school Thursday morning.
Major Zukarnain Kunakon, Datu Anggal Midtimbang municipal police chief, identified the victim as Israel Paquital, a teacher at the Datu Anggal Midtimbang Elementary School.
Kunakon said Paquital was driving his car on his way to the school when gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on him at about 7 a.m. in Sitio Matalam, Barangay Midtimbang, Datu Anggal Midtimbang town.
“Paquital who was driving alone in his car was critically wounded,” Kunakon said, adding that a manhunt has been launched against the perpetrators.
“We have no idea yet on the suspects’ identities and the motive as of this time,” Kunakon added.
Police units from Datu Anggal Midtimbang town and the nearby municipalities have been alerted for the possible sighting of the attackers.
The ambush came 13 days after public school teacher Joel Reformado was gunned down, and his companion injured on May 26 in Pikit, North Cotabato. (PNA)
