-
COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/21 July) – The secretary to the city mayor was seriously wounded in an attack staged by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants at mid-afternoon on Tuesday.
Aniceto “Boy” Rasalan sustained gunshot wounds in his face and body but survived the attack.
Reports said Rasalan was driving a government-owned Mitsubishi L-300 van along Sinsuat Avenue toward the city hall.
As he approached the corner of San Isidro Street gunmen aboard a “skeleton” modified motorbike opened fire at close range using .
45 caliber pistols.
His van bumped another vehicle at the front after he pressed his vehicle’s accelerator.
He was brought to a private hospital.
Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. said Rasalan’s condition had stabilized and he was brought out of the intensive care unit by 4 p.m.
He described Rasalan as a hardworking city government employee who had no personal armed escorts having no known enemy.
“He is just focused on his works as secretary; he is not involved in any political activity of the city,” Guiani said of Rasalan.
The mayor said he directed the city police to investigate deeper and identify the perpetrators as soon as possible.
The local police were yet to issue a statement on the possible motive of the incident. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)
