2 soldiers hurt in Cotabato City ambush
COTABATO CITY — Two off-duty soldiers were critically injured in a daylight ambush along the busy Sinsuat Avenue here on Friday, the military said.
Police identified the victims as Private First Class Clyde A. Najera, 25, of Kapatagan, Zamboanga del Sur; and Private First Class Rico R. Zamora, 22, of Sta. Maria, Zamboanga del Sur.
Both are members of the Philippine Army’s 549th Engineering Brigade based in Camp Siongco, Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
The soldiers were riding tandem on board a motorcycle (Yamaha Sniper 150) heading toward downtown area past noon on Friday, May 31, when shot in the head by gunmen on separate motorbikes, according to Colonel Portia Manalad, city police director, on Saturday.
Manalad was quoting a report from Police Station 2.
The victims, in civilian clothes, were on their way to fetch a package at a local LBC branch when ambushed.
Police and the Army’s 5th Special Forces based in the city are working closely to identify the attackers and the motive behind the ambush, said Manalad.
