BACOLOD CITY – A 40-year-old soldier was shot and wounded by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Monday, Feb. 17.

A SOLDIER was shot and wounded by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Monday, Feb. 17. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office)
Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, Army 79th Infantry Battalion civil military officer, said the victim is one of their men with a rank of sergeant based in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
Samoza said that the victim was on his way to buy medicine when he was attacked by the perpetrators around noon.
Police Major Ronald Santillan, deputy chief of the San Carlos City Police Station, said that the victim sustained multiple bullet wounds and recuperating in a hospital here.
Recovered from the crime scene were three fired bullets and a fired .45 caliber bullet.
Santillan said that suspects Jojo, 31, and Dondon, 42, both residents of Calatrava, Negros Occidental, were arrested in a pursuit operation in San Carlos City with the help of a closed-circuit television camera.
Seized from them were 162.67 grams of suspected shabu worth P1.1 million, 2.47 grams of suspected marijuana valued at P370.50, a .45 caliber pistol, five magazines, 24 bullets, a holster, P402, helmets, sling bag, grenade, a KG9 pistol, 15 sachets of suspected shabu, and a sachet of suspected marijuana.
Santillan said that a 15-year-old girl was rescued outside the apartment when police tracked down the perpetrators. The girl knew one of the suspects and is not involved in the crime. She was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Santillan said that Jojo, the shooter, was allegedly involved in two shooting incidents in the neighboring town of Calatrava. The suspects will also be probed for their involvement in drug peddling.
Police are determining the motive. The Army said the incident might be a case of mistaken identity.
Samoza said that they are coordinating with the police regarding the shooting and the Army will extend medical assistance to the victim.