Education official, wife gunned down in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An education official in Basilan and his wife, a public school teacher, were killed while her sister was seriously wounded in a gun attack in a remote village in Lamitan City on Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Chief Inspector Almer Ismael, Lamitan City police chief, said Rodolfo Saavedra, 64, a human resource and planning officer of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Department of Education provincial office, and his wife Gloria, a public school teacher in Isabela City, were shot in the head.

Ismael said Gloria’s sister, Joy Cobico, survived the attack but was critically wounded.

Investigation said the Saavedras and Cobico were cruising an isolated road in a rubber plantation in Barangay Maloong Canal, Lamitan City on board a motorcycle when they were waylaid at around 2 p.m. Monday.

Police said the Saavedras visited the area every weekend since the teacher hailed from the place.

The attackers did not touch the victims’ valuables, but took Saavedra’s motorcycle which they used in their escape, according to Ismael.

He said the attack was carried out clearly to finish off the couple.

Police believe Cobico was left for dead by the attackers who thought they had killed her. 

Ismael said they would likely rule out robbery as possible motive and were looking into other angles, including personal grudge. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe