Soldier shot in Cotabato bus holdup still alive — Army

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The soldier earlier reported to have died after being shot by armed robbers inside a passenger bus in Cotabato is still alive, a military official said Tuesday. Lt. Arnel Duque, chief of the Civil Military Operations of the 7th Infantry Battalion in Pikit town, said S/Sgt. Renato Verano, who was shot at his back and right forearm, is recuperating well at a hospital in Cotabato City. Verano, 43, was on a Peoples’ Transport bus bound for Cotabato City when armed men who posed as passengers declared a holdup upon reaching Sitio Tinibtiban, along the boundary of Barangays Dalingaoen and Batulawan in Pikit town. Verano, Duque said, was identified by the suspects as a member of the Army because of his haircut. Thinking he was armed, the suspect, using a 45 caliber pistol, shot the victim at his back while seated. "Sergeant Verano was not armed during the incident because it’s our policy not to carry firearms due to our adherence to the Comelec gun ban," Duque said. Verano was on his way to Cotabato City to attend a training on advance Non-Commissioned Officer course at the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Duque said the Army troops have joined police forces in going after the suspects. "We already set up visibility in areas we identified as their bases," said Duque. A civilian passenger identified as Ramil Gillesena of Poblacion, Matalam, was also wounded in the incident. The suspects ran away with some P30,000 cash from the bus’ ticket collector and valuables from some passengers, reports said. — Malu Cadelina Manar/RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV