2 Army soldiers arrested over North Cotabato shooting

KORONADAL CITY — Two Philippine Army soldiers were arrested after allegedly shooting a 23-year-old man traveling from Davao City to Cotabato City in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, before dawn Thursday, police said.The suspects, both members of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion and residents of Midsayap, North Cotabato, were arrested following a pursuit operation shortly after the incident at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

According to a police report, the victim, identified only as alias Dats, 23, of Cotabato City, flagged down a police team conducting a mobile checkpoint in Barangay South Manuangan after he was shot.

READ: 2 Coast Guard personnel slain in Cotabato City shootingInitial investigation showed that Dats was driving his gray Yamaha NMAX motorcycle toward Cotabato City when he was allegedly chased and shot by the two soldiers.He sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm, with the bullet exiting through his back.Police relayed the incident to local authorities and initiated a lockdown across the municipality’s barangays.

Police launched a pursuit operation that led to the interception and arrest of the suspects in Barangay Presbitero, Pigcawayan, as they sped toward Midsayap.Authorities recovered two loaded .45-caliber pistols from the suspects. One was an M1911A1 pistol with seven rounds of ammunition, while the other was a Colt MK IV Series 80 pistol with eight rounds.Police also seized a red-and-black Honda RS150 motorcycle and three cellphones.The spot report said the suspects failed to present legal documents or licenses authorizing them to possess the firearms. Dats also positively identified them as the men who allegedly shot him.Dats is being treated at Pesante Hospital in Libungan, Cotabato, while the two suspects remain detained at the Pigcawayan Municipal Police Station custodial facility pending the filing of appropriate charges.Police are still investigating the motive for the shooting./coa