Teacher dead, companion hurt in gun attack in Cotabato town
PIKIT, Cotabato–Unidentified gunmen fatally shot a teacher and injured another as they were traveling home on a motorbike on Friday.
Lt. Col. John Miridel Calinga, Pikit police chief, said in a radio interview that a manhunt had been launched with the help of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion.
Killed on the spot was Joel Reformado, 36, a teacher of Damalasak Elementary School in this town and a resident of Barangay Poblacion. His co-teacher, identified as Elton John Lapined, 37, also of this town, was critically injured and rushed to the hospital by villagers.
The victims were riding a motorcycle when two individuals on another motorbike indiscriminately fired at them in front of Manaulanan Elementary School in Barangay Manaulanan.
“The suspects hurriedly left on board a motorbike,” a witness said.
Article continues after this advertisementThe village of Manaulanan is now part of the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Article continues after this advertisementThe killing has alarmed teachers and human rights lawyers.
“Why were they attacked, we now fear for our lives here in Pikit, this is abnormal, we are no longer safe here,” a public school teacher of an interior barangay, who asked not to be named, said.
“Sir Reformado is a very good teacher, he is a coach for sports, he has no known enemies,” the teacher added.
“This is extremely alarming,” Ronald Hallid Dimacisil Torres, a human rights lawyer, said in a social media post.
“Why are teachers being shot in Pikit?” Torres asked.
“Is there no end to these killings? Even teachers who have nothing to do with their conflicts are being dragged into the situation,” another teacher said.
Pikit town Councilor Sitty Nursheena D. Sultan has condemned the attack against Reformado and Lapined.
“I strongly condemn the merciless killing of Mr. Joel Reformado,” she said.
“I also support and stand with everyone in solidarity as we seek justice for Joel Reformado. We are calling for all the witnesses and those who know the perpetrators to coordinate with the police and other authorities,” the councilor said.
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