LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — A quarry checker employed by the local government unit of Solsona in Ilocos Norte province was shot and wounded early Saturday morning by suspects who were riding pillion on a motorcycle, police said.
Initial investigation showed that John Kerwin Pasion, 34, was shot multiple times in the chest and stomach while he was drinking coffee at around 5 a.m. at his workstation in Barangay Juan in Solsona town.
A bystander, Mark Joseph Francisco, 22, was also injured when he was by a bullet in his right leg, police said.
Both were taken to the nearby Dingras District Hospital but Pasion was transferred to the Mariano Marcos Hospital in Batac City as he needed to undergo an immediate operation, according to the police.
In a statement, Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara deplored the shooting incident as Pasion was only performing his duties as a quarry checker.
“The municipal government condemns this antiquated, uncivilized act and will exert efforts to bring the criminals to justice,” said De Lara.
Pasion’s family also demanded that those who witnessed the incident come forward for the immediate identification of the suspects.
An investigation is ongoing to establish the motive behind the attack, police said.