Off-duty soldier slain in Maguindanao ambush

SULTAN KUDARAT, MAGUINDANAO –– Unidentified gunmen shot dead on Sunday an off-duty soldier along the national highway in Barangay Rebuken here, police said.

Major Julhamin Asdani, Sultan Kudarat municipal police chief, said Corporal James Earl Maquinto, 31, assigned at the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, was driving his motorbike heading for Pigcawayan when two men tailing him on separate motorbikes opened fire at 2:30 p.m. at the national highway.

Maquinto, who lived in Pagcawayan town, Cotabato province, was unarmed and in civilian clothes when attacked.

Asdani said Maquinto suffered multiple bullet wounds in the head and body. He died on the spot.

The police ruled out robbery since the victim’s belongings, including his motorbike, remained intact./lzb