Cotabato City official, driver, survive ambush
2023-Aug-17 11:13
2024-Dec-01 05:29
AMBUSHED. Police examine the pickup truck of Cotabato City of Pedro Tato Jr. after he was ambushed on his way to the city hall along Sebastian Street at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 15, 2023). Fortunately, Tato sustained minor injuries only. (PNA)
Two unidentified men on a motorcycle ambushed Pedro Tato Jr., the chief of the Cotabato City General Services Office (GSO), and his chauffeur, injuring them simultaneously on Tuesday morning.
Cotabato City General Services Office (GSO) Chief Pedro Tato Jr. was shot in the shoulder while his driver Dandy Anonat also suffered serious injuries, according to a police complaint.
Three men were apparently seen following Tato Jr.'s service car from San Pablo Village around 8:30 a.m. before opening fire close to the entrance of the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, the city's Public Safety Officer Almedras Renabor said.
Following the shooting event, the suspects hurriedly took off on separate motorcycles.
Police are still investigating the motives behind the attack.
Meanwhile, they collected empty shells of the .45 caliber gun at the crime scene.
Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Matabalao strongly denounced the attempted assassinations of Tato and Anonat and the grenade attack on former Comelec Chairperson Sheriff Abas' residence.
Both occurred in Barangay Rosary Heights yesterday. Matabalao offered a 300,000-peso incentive to anyone who has information to help identify and capture the culprits. (Sheree Dalisay)