A COUPLE who are both public school teachers were attacked by unidentified gunmen inside the Dalit Elementary School in Valencia City, leaving the wife wounded, Tuesday, October 15.
Police identified the couple as Zhydee and Ramil CabaƱelez.
Investigation disclosed that four armed men onboard two motorcycles barged into the classroom and shot the couple.
But the gunmen reportedly escorted around seven pupils out of the classroom before shooting the victims.
The wife sustained multiple gunshot wounds and is now in stable condition, while the husband dodged the bullets and managed to escape.
"Walay estudyante nga nadamay (No student was injured)," police said.
Investigators are suspecting that the target was the husband.
According to a source, the couple's involvement in the government and rumored "surrender" to the military is likely the reason behind the shooting.
The source said the wife is the daughter of Zaldy Bitago, an alleged member of the Guerilla Front-6, North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCRMC) of the New People's Army (NPA).
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Northern Mindanao said Zhydee is one of their active members and was even awarded as an outstanding teacher in the barangay.
The shooting was believed to be the handiwork of the NPA, which meant to scare, not to kill, the couple.
But police are still investigating the incident.