Doc slain, local chief seized in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA City – Six armed men in ski masks shot and killed a doctor and abducted a village chief Sunday night in Lamitan town, Basilan.

One of the two companions of the victims who managed to escape was hit and wounded during the incident.

Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman of the Armed Forces Southern Command, identified the slain victim as Dr. Pilardo Perez, a government physician.

The abducted village chief, on the other hand, was known as Buvinto Mclinto, barangay captain of Malooing, in Lamitan town.

Perez died of a gunshot would in the head. A companion, Jaime Ramos, was wounded but he managed to escape.

Perez, Mclinto and Ramos were on board a Pajero on their way to Lamitan town proper when six armed men in a Tamaraw FX blocked their vehicle’s path.

The gunmen commandeered the victims’ vehicle and brought them to Tandung Ahas Beach. Perez fought to escape but one of the gunmen shot him in the head.

According to a local official, the gunmen seized Mclinto and brought him towards Barangay Ulam in Lamitan. – Roel Pareño