State university official shot in Surigao del Sur

MANILA, Philippines—A state university director was wounded Tuesday morning after being shot by still unidentified suspects in Surigao del Sur, a Philippine National Police spokesman said Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that Surigao del Sur State University-San Miguel Campus Director Pastor Balorio Saleras, 57, was shot by still unidentified suspects near the campus in Sitio (settlement) Sinas, Barangay (village) Caromata, San Miguel, around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

In a separate interview, Caraga spokesman Superintendent Martin Gamba said that Saleras had just boarded his Honda Phoenix motorcycle when an undetermined number of suspects blocked him and shot him in close range at the right side of his chest.

While the suspects were escaping, Saleras took the chance to run toward the guardhouse of the campus to seek help. Authorities rushed him to Adela Sierra Ty Memorial Medical Center.

He said that the weapon used is yet to be identified, adding that further investigation was underway to determine the motive and for possible arrest of the suspects.