The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) has deployed additional quick reaction teams to prevent a repeat of three deadly ambush incidents in Cotabato City, which occurred within a span of just two days.
A motorcycle-riding police corporal, who was trailing a tricycle, survived an ambush with only a superficial wound on Sunday, but the tricycle driver, Basir M. Gapor, was not as fortunate.
Gapor, a resident of Barangay Poblacion 5, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after being hit by stray bullets in the attack. His 16-year-old male passenger was wounded in the incident and is currently in safe condition.
The ambush was preceded by two similar attacks on Saturday, which left two men riding a motorcycle and another motorist dead. The first incident, which occurred at dawn, involved the killing of Ibrahim K. Miya and Aldren L. Karisio Keda in Barangay Rosary Heights 11. Their female companions were also injured in the attack.
About seven hours later, gunmen ambushed Moro engineer Surraff Kadir L. Pasandalan and his 16-year-old son in Barangay Rosary Heights 10, killing Pasandalan and wounding his son.
The perpetrators of the three attacks are currently being hunted by PRO-BAR personnel in Cotabato City. The authorities have condemned the atrocities, and an extensive manhunt is underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The police director and spokesperson of the PRO-BAR assured that the wounded individuals are receiving medical attention and are in safe condition. The authorities have increased security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of residents in Cotabato City, and the authorities are working to restore peace and order in the area.
