Gunmen attack Zambo Sur mayor’s home

PAGADIAN CITY – Heavily armed men attacked the residence of a former town mayor Sunday night and left three people wounded in Dimataling, 45 kilometers west of this provincial capital of Zamboanga del Sur, authorities said.

The unidentified gunmen reportedly opened fire with a rocket-propelled grenade at the house of ex-mayor Haniel Baya at around 9:30 p.m. in Barangay Tingabolong.

Police reported that Baya, an aspirant for the mayoralty post, was unhurt but three of the house occupants were wounded in the attack. They were not immediately identified but reports disclosed that the victims were relatives and workers of Baya.

Baya’s wife Maria Lourdes is the current mayor of Dimataling town.

Police are still establishing the motive of the attack but did not discount the possibility that it could be election-related as the town was listed among the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) areas of concern.

The area is also one of the areas heavily infested with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels operating in the Baganian peninsula.