School exec hurt in Cotabato gun attack

KIDAPAWAN CITY — An official of a state-owned college in North Cotabato was wounded when unidentified gunman shot him while driving on the national highway in President Roxas town at about 810 a.m. on Saturday, a police officer said.

Superintendent Bernard Tayong, spokesman for the Cotabato Police Provincial Office, identified the victim as Cedric Mantawil, planning officer of the Cotabato Foundation College for Science and Technology (CFCST), located in Barangay Doruluman, Arakan in North Cotabato.

Tayong said the victim was driving his Honda City heading for Kidapawan City when one of the two motorists tailing him shot him twice.

The suspects, both on a black Honda XRM motorcycle, exited toward the hinterland portion of President Roxas town, while the victim was rushed to the Cotabato Provincial Hospital at Amas complex located in the city.

Police investigators recovered from the crime scene one spent shell from a cal.-45 handgun.

Mantawil sustained gunshot wounds on his left arm.

A student from CFCST who was seated next to Mantawil was unhurt in the attack.

Police Officer 2 Joey Failano, one of the investigators, said that Mantawil was negotiating a blind curve in Barangay Greenhills during the attack.

Railano said, the victim stopped his tinted car after he was shot, which made the suspects believe Mantawil was dead. 

The gunmen fled as onlookers and bystanders begin to gather near the crime scene.

Police are now investigating for the motive and the perpetrators of the attack.

Mantawil, before his assignment at CFCST as planning officer, was councilor of Kabacan town and one of the members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Southern Mindanao main campus.   — LBG, GMA News