Village chief gunned down in Dinas town

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - - A barangay captain was gunned down while having his  lunch Sunday in a village in Dinas town, Zamboanga del Sur, police reported here.

The victim was identified as Julian Torres Nacua, barangay captain of Barangay West Migpulao, a staunch supporter of defeated mayoral aspirant Wilfredo Asoy (not incumbent mayor Basilio Vidad), according to Chief Inspector Arieal Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO).

Huesca said investigation disclosed the victim was in his residence at Purok Sampaguita taking lunch with his family  at about 12  noon when the suspect identified as Muamar Fermin barged inside and shot Nacua.

Nacua  died on the spot owing to several gunshot wounds while  the suspect escaped toward unknown direction.

Huesca said police probers believed that the gun slaying of Nacua could be due to personal grudge but are investigating further if the murder was  related with the recently-concluded elections.

Police observed that at the height of the election period,  several village leaders were either harassed or gunned down in Zamboanga del Sur.