Businessman gunned down in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - A young restaurant owner was gunned down Wednesday dawn in a coastal village in this city, police said.

The City Police Office identified the victim as Justin Lopez Atilano, who was in his early 20s, owner of WHY resto-bar and son of the owner of a local pension inn this city.

City Police director Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo said Atilano was on board a scooter-bike with plate number JN-4199 when he was shot several times at Barangay Rio Hondo about 4:30 a.m Wednesday by a still unidentified suspect.

Police believed Atilano tried to escape as his body was found below a parked jeepney along the road. Th victim bore multiple gunshot wounds and  is said to have died on the spot.

De Ocampo said investigation also disclosed that the victim was last seen in his restobar at Barangay Pasonanca and was seen  fetching a companion in the village of Rio Hondo where he was killed.

Investigating policemen recovered from the crime scene 15 spent shells believed to be discharged from 9mm pistol and drugs paraphernalia inside the utility box of the victim’s motorcycle, according to De Ocampo.