Barangay captain, girl shot dead in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - A barangay captain and a young girl were killed while another was seriously wounded in a gun attack Wednesday night in a west coast border village of this city which police believe was related to the upcoming barangay election.

At least two other persons were also killed in in separate gun attacks in Pagadian City and Dinas town in Zamboanga del Sur on the same day.

Senior Inspector Chester Natividad, Police Station 10 commander, identified the slain barangay captain as Allimudin Quiallah, chairman of Barangay Cusipan, Sibucon town, Zamboanga del Norte and Jay Ann Ismael, 10. The wounded victim as identified as Tottoh Mohammad Ismael, 26.

Natividad said that the victims had just alighted from a motor boat that ferried them from Sibuco town, and were walking in the shores of Sitio Suyugan, Barangay Limpapa, when they were fired upon by the suspects at around 8:30 p.m.

Quillah and the young girl died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds while Ismael was rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) for treatment.

Police said further investigations revealed that the gun attack might have something to do with the barangay election in October as Quillah was said to be running again.

Meanwhile, two more persons were killed in separate shooting incidents in Zamboanga del Sur. They were identified as Ronald Eramil Sumalpong, 28, a resident of Barangay Mirapao and Angelito Bulahan, 44, of Barangay Banale, Pagadian City.

Sumalpong was driving his motorcycle with a back-rider identified as Elena Ay-Ay Saura when he was blocked by two masks-wearing assassins armed with .45 caliber pistols at Barangay Old Mirapao.

Sumalpong was attempting to escape when he was shot dead by the suspects.

Bulahan, meanwhile, was fetching his wife selling fruits at the Agora market in Pagadian City when he was attacked by two motorcycle-riding suspects. He was shot dead in front of his horrified wife.

Investigations on the separate shooting incidents are ongoing.