Grade 11 student killed in Pikit school attack

Ferdinandh B. Cabrera

November 30, 2023
12:40 pm

PIKIT, Cotabato (MindaNews / 30 November)—A 21-year-old Grade 11 student was killed when two armed men forcibly entered a school compound here on Wednesday and opened fire.

30pikit web — Policemen investigate the shooting incident at the Datu Dalandag High School in Pikit, Cotabato province. Photo courtesy of Pikit police

Major Arvin Cambang, Pikit town police chief, identified the victim as John Rey Cabuga, a student of Datu Dalandag High School in Barangay Ginatilan.

Cambang said that based on investigation quoting witnesses, two persons barged into the school compound looking for Cabuga. When they saw him, one of the suspects suddenly opened fire from a .45 caliber pistol.

“The two suspects just simply walked away and rode a getaway motorcycle waiting outside,” said Cambang.

The victim died instantly, his body lying on the school ground, police said.

School administration has released an advisory Wednesday evening for the suspension of classes in the meantime.

Cambang said that the victim was a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) of the Philippine Army, as village security of Barangay Ginatilan.

“We are looking closely to his role as CAFGU that could have been the motive of the killing,” the police chief said.

Since early this month and the past nights, Pikit town was blemished by a series of shooting incidents and grenade attacks.

Several were killed and wounded just this month.

Pikit town has been marred by a series of attacks and shooting incidents near school areas, victimizing school children in February this year.

The series of attacks that killed students has called the attention of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte after online class was reimposed as students are afraid to go to school due to vengeance attacks by feuding parties.

UNICEF was also alarmed and issued a statement to spare innocent children from violent incidents in schools.

The shooting on Wednesday happened as the town and the provincial governments were celebrating the Mindanao Week of Peace theme “Diversity and Harmony: Bridging the Differences Through Dialogue.

” (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)

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