4 injured as gunmen shoot at truck carrying 30 people headed for beach

MAGUINDANAO — Four persons were injured when still unidentified gunmen fired at a cargo truck carrying beach-goers as it was crossing the border of Pagalungan, Maguindanao and Pikit, North Cotabato around 6 a.m. on Monday.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, chief of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, said the Isuzu Elf truck, driven by Jolly Paquira, had come from Midsayap, also in North Cotabato, and was carrying about 30 people.

Paquira, 31, was injured, along with Roland Custodio, 30; Carol Samaranos, 29; and a 9-year old girl.

Tello said the truck passengers were heading for Digos City in Davao del Sur to celebrate the New Year.

The injured were taken to a hospital in Kabacan, North Cotabato. The planned excursion was called off, he said.

Tello said the motive of the attack remained unknown and investigation was still being conducted. /atm