Soldier slain, 2 others hurt in Cotabato shooting

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8): Soldier slain, 2 others hurt in Cotabato shooting

Unidentified gunmen shot dead an Army sergeant and wounded two other civilians in a remote village in Matalam town in North Cotabato, around 7 p.m., Tuesday, a top military official said.

Lt. Nasrullah Sema, chief civil military operations of the 57th Infantry Battalion, identified the victim as Staff Sergeant Jomar Desabilla, 42, assigned at Camp Panacan of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City.

Also wounded during the shooting incident were Rudy Cacayurin and Wilson Pagayon, both civilians and resident of Barangay Sarayan, Matalam.

Sema said the victims were having a drinking spree inside Desabilla’s residential compound when two unidentified gunmen fired shots towards them.

Desabilla was celebrating his birthday when the incident happened. He died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds.

The wounded civilians were brought to the Antipas Medical Specialist Hospital in Antipas, North Cotabato.

Authorities recovered from the crime site slugs from a .45 caliber pistol they believed were used in the attack.

Sema said they are investigating the motive and identities of the perpetrators.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=523587