DAVAO CITY – A senior regional Army commander in Cagayan de Oro City cheated death when he survived an ambush on Thursday apparently targetting him.
But a member of the Scout Ranger was not as lucky as the wounded Col. Edwin Respecio, deputy commander of the 10th Regional Community Defense Group in Cagayan de Oro, in a separate slay attempt in Compostela Valley, also on Thursday.
Lt. Col Eduardo Gubat, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said Col. Respecio was wounded “in a liquidation attempt by unidentified gunmen at 8:00 am.”
Respecio was on his way to the headquarters of the 10th RCDG in Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City on board his Suzuki Celerio vehicle, when motrocycle-riding men shot him.
Respecio sustained a gunshot wound at his left face but survived. Gubat said Respecio is now in stable condition at a medical facility in Cagayan de Oro.
“Local police and soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division are on pursuit operations against the perpetrators,” Gubat said.
Meanwhile, a member of the 12th Scout Ranger Company was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen along San Antonio Elementary School, Barangay San Antonio, Mabini town in Compostela Valley Province at 12:30 pm on Thursday.
The suspects were reported on board two unmarked XRM motorcycles. The Army, however, did not name the soldier killed during the incident.
The Army said joint elements from 71st Infantry Battalion and Mabini Police Station are now on their pursuit operations against the perpetrators.
Eastern Mindanao Command Commander Lt. Gen. Aurelio B. Baladad directed military unit commanders in the region to be vigilant at all times.(davaotoday.com)
