By NITZ ARANCON, Correspondent STILL unidentified gunmen ambushed a ranking military official on the road near the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Barangay Bulua, this city, yesterday morning. The victim, Col. Edwin Respecio, deputy commander of the 10th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) at Camp Evangelista, was rushed to the Polymedic Plaza in Barangay Kauswagan after he was shot to the left cheek. The bullet pierced through the other cheek, said SPO3 Dominador Datahan of the Bulua police station. Supt. Lemuel Gonda, chief for operations and planning of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said the 52-year old Army official was conscious in the hospital but couldn’t speak. Datahan said Col. Respecio was drivinga gray Suzuki Celerio with license plates PAI-735 when he was attacked at around 8 am. He said the triggerman was with two other men on motorcycles. “Gisundan siya (Respecio) sa tulo ka suspect nga nag-convoy. Ang usa ka motor dunay backride ang usa wala, ug gipusil siya sa mga suspect,” said Datahan. He said a taxi driver, who was behind the victim and the suspects, saw everything, came forward, and gave the police a statement. Investigators said Respecio was bound to Camp Evangelista from his Iponan home when the ambush was staged. Datahan said a wounded Respecio managed to speed off, some 100 meters from where he was attacked, and stopped the car at a crowded jeepney stop, apparently to make the assailants have second thoughts about finishing him off. Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) medico legal officer West Edquila said Respecio was armed with a caliber .45 pistol with two fully loaded magazines but police could not say if the colonel was able to fire back. “We don’t know yet if he fought back with his pistol. We will check the gun at the crime lab,” he said. Edquila said Respecio’s gun was found in the car. Also found in the car were bullets, a cellphone, and documents. At presstime, investigators said they are still facing a blank wall on the motive for the attack. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has stepped in in an effort to crack the case.