By Malu Cadelina Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY – A school head in Pikit, North Cotabato was critically wounded after he was attacked by a still unidentified gunman while on his way to his workplace, around 7:15 a.m., Thursday, police reports said.
Superintendent Bernard Tayong, spokesman for the Cotabato Police Provincial Office (CPPO), identified the victim as Ritchel Celestial Parreno, principal of the Bulol High School, an annex of the Pikit National High School, located at Barangay Bulol, Pikit.
Tayong said Parreno was on his way to the school onboard his XRM motorbike when the gunman shot him on his arm, along the NIA road at Barangay Takepan, Pikit.
Parreno, despite being hit, sped towards the Poblacion where he sought help from friends.
They immediately rushed the victim to a hospital in nearby Midsayap, North Cotabato.
Tayong has yet to determine what caused the attempt on Parreno’s life.
Omar Obas, superintendent of the Cotabato Schools Division, said he was saddened to know that a member of the teaching personnel in his province had to suffer such a ‘ruthless’ attack.
“But we will wait for the results of the investigations of the Police. We hope to get justice here. We also pray Parreno survives this attack,” said Obas.
Since 2010, at least three school heads in North Cotabato were killed by still unidentified gunmen. Up to this writing, authorities were still clueless as to the identities of the attackers and the motives behind the killings.