An Army non-commissioned officer was shot for no apparent reason by an unidentified person at 1:30 a.m. Friday, at the public market of Canlaon City , Negros Oriental.

Police reports yesterday identified the victim as Private First Class Joseph Barte Tejam, 27, single, a trooper of the Alpha Company of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army stationed in Brgy. Masulog, Canlaon, and a resident of La Castellana, Negros Occidental.

Police reports said that the shooting took place while the victim was in the comfort room of the public market.

Investigation showed that the unknown suspect suddenly entered the comfort room, shot the victim with a .45 caliber pistol, and fled immediately.

The victim, who was hit in the left side of his abdomen, was rushed by responding policemen to the Canlaon City District Hospital and later transferred to the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City .

Recovered from the crime scene were four empty shells and one live ammunition of a .45 pistol.

Tejam is now in stable condition, the police said.

Probers said they are still looking into the motive for the shooting. The Canlaon PNP has launched a manhunt for the suspect.*RG

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