DepEd-ARMM employee shot dead in Cotabato, police heighten alert

COTABATO CITY — Police foot patrols have been doubled following the shooting of a teacher-employee of the Department of Education – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEd-ARMM) here by a lone gunman late Friday.

“It is to note that police visibility is of utmost importance for the safety of the people around the city,” Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, told reporters here Saturday.

At about 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dr. Nasser Gayak, 40, a staff teacher of DepEd-ARMM from Pagalungan, North Cotabato, was walking along the corner of Japal Guiani and Jose Lim Sr. streets here when approached from behind by a lone gunman, who shot him three times in the head and body.

After the shooting, witnesses said the gunman, who was wearing a baseball cap, tucked his .45-caliber pistol on his waist and disappeared amid the panicking crowd.

Responding cops brought the victim to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Octavio said investigation is still ongoing but hinted that the case could be work-related. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)

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