Newly-elected b'gay councilor, teacher slain in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A newly elected village councilor and a teacher, who served as Board of Election Inspector (BEI) in the barangay elections last month, were killed in separate gun attacks in Zamboanga Peninsula, a police official said Friday.

Regional police spokesman Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca identified the victims as Julieam Lapinig, 41, elected barangay councilor of Manguiles, Mahayag town, Zamboanga del Sur and Gina Niones Yosores, 45, a public school teacher of Buug town, zamboanga Sibugay province.

Police investigations disclosed that Lapinig was driving home on a motorcycle with his wife when they were waylaid by three unidentified gunmen at sitio Purok Sinco, Barangay Manguiles on Wednesday.

The suspects fired at Lapinig and killed him on the spot. The suspects escaped and left the victim;s wife unharmed, according to investigator Police Officer 1 Lito Pumicpic.

Yosores, meanwhile,  sustained a bullet wound on her forehead after being attacked by a lone gunmen identified as Freddie Puerto, 19, a resident of Baranga Talami Buug town. The suspect is now the subject of a police manhunt.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Dave said that according to the victim’s husband, Yosores was offered a bribe and asked to manipulate the results of the counting in her voting precinct last October 28, but she turned it down.

Police suspect that Yosores' killing was connected with the rejected bribe.