2 teens hurt in Cotabato City shooting

COTABATO CITY – Two teenagers were seriously wounded when an unidentified gunman shot them at Barangay Rosary Heights 13 here on Sunday night, (Aug 18), police said.

Capt. Rustom Pastolero, Cotabato Police Station 2 chief, Identified the victims only as “Kim” and “Gerald,” both 16 years old and students.

The two went to a roadside store to buy food around 9 p.m. when a tricycle arrived with three men on board. One of them pulled out a pistol and shot the boys, Pastolero said.

The suspects fled while neighbors rushed the two to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.

Pastolero said the attack’s motive is still unknown but they have leads that could help identify and hopefully arrest the assailants.

Pastolero added that Kim and Gerald do not belong to any street gang in the city.

The shooting occurred amid a crackdown by the Cotabato City government on violence among youth gangs.

More than 200 youngsters from different gangs had surrendered to Mayor Cynthia Guianu Sayadi./TSB