Off-duty soldier killed, buddy hurt in Maguindanao del Norte ambush

FILE PHOTO

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao del Norte – An off-duty soldier was killed and his companion critically injured in a daylight gun attack along the national highway here on Friday, police said.

Lt. Col. Julhamin Asdani, Sultan Kudarat police chief, identified the slain soldier as Staff Sgt. Darwin Alaba of the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT) based in Barangay Pigcalagan here.

His companion Pfc. Erwin Villa was injured and is now undergoing medication in a hospital in Cotabato City. Both were in civilian clothes when attacked.

The victims, both assigned with the 1st BCT, were on board a Bajah motorcycle heading to Cotabato City when gunmen on a motorbike shot them from behind while they were traversing the national highway in Sitio Sandakan, Barangay Dalumangcob at past 1 p.m.

Asdani said in a radio interview that the suspects appeared to have tailed the victims along the highway until the ambush site.

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