DILG chief condemns Cotabato town shooting of students

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos has condemned the shooting of students in Pikit, Cotabato that left a 13-year-old boy dead and two others wounded.

Abalos said he directed the Philippine National Police to conduct an investigation into the shooting.

”Our resolve on these heinous crimes will not dwindle as we continue to fulfill our mandate to protect Filipinos,” he said.

Classes were suspended in Pikit this week due to the incident.

The fatality, Fahad Guimalon, and the other victims were reportedly walking outside their school when they were attacked. A manhunt for the gunman, who has yet to be identified, is underway.

Abalos said the DILG is coordinating with the Department of National Defense and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to resolve the case.

“Hindi tayo titigil hanggang hindi nagkakaroon ng hustisya ang mga naging biktima at kanilang mga pamilya,” he said.

Meanwhile, two persons, one of them also a student, was wounded in a gun attack in Barangay Poblacion, also in Pikit yesterday.

One of the victims, a Grade 9 student, was in a roadside store when he was shot.

The other victim was a motorcycle rider identified as Guima Lopez. – John Unson