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KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/12 July) – A school official in Pikit, North Cotabato was wounded in an attack by a still unidentified gunman while on his way to work around 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, police said.
Supt Bernard Tayong, spokesperson of the Cotabato Police Provincial Office, identified the victim as Ritchel Celestial Parreno, principal of the Bulol High School, an annex of the Pikit National High School, in Barangay Bulol.[]
Tayong said Parreno was onboard his XRM motorbike along the NIA road in Barangay Takepan, Pikit when the gunman fired hitting him in the arm.[]
Despite being hit Parreno managed to continue driving towards the town proper where he sought help from friends.
His friends brought the victim to a hospital in nearby Midsayap, North Cotabato.
Tayong said they are still clueless on the motive of the attack.[]
Omar Obas, superintendent of the Cotabato Schools Division, said he was saddened by the “ruthless” attack.
“But we will wait for the results of the investigations of the police. We hope to get justice here. We also pray Parreno survives this attack,” said Obas.
Since 2010, three school heads in North Cotabato had been killed by still unidentified assailants. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)
