Gunmen shoot principal in front of Cotabato school

A school principal was wounded after being shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen outside a school in the town of Midsayap, Cotabato.

According to a Tuesday report on “24 Oras,” principal Arlyn Alcebar was driving her car when she was shot by a motorcycle rider and his passenger  in front of the Agriculture Elementary School.

The victim was brought to a hospital and is in stable condition.

The Department of Education (DepEd) condemned the incident.

“The DepEd Central Office condemns in the strongest possible terms the shooting of the principal of Agriculture Elementary School in Midsayap, North Cotabato. This is not only an attack on an educator, but an assault on the sanctity of schools as safe zone for learning,” DepEd said in a statement.

The department added it is coordinating with the Philippine National Police, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the local government unit to locate and arrest the suspects.

DepEd also said it provided financial and psychological first aid assistance to those affected by the incident. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News