School principal shot dead in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A primary school principal of a state university was shot and killed while a bystander was slightly injured by a stray bullet Tuesday afternoon in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi province, police reported Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson, Tawi-Tawi provincial police commander, identified the victim as Ponchita Francisco, officer-in-charge principal of the Mindanao State University grade school.

Jocson said Francisco was shot by a lone assailant about 6 p.m. Tuesday outside the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Bongao.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but was declared dead on arrival by an attending physician.

Jocson said witnesses saw the assassin escape on board a single motorcycle.

The police investigator said the victim had just been promoted to the position last July.