Councilor hurt, companion killed in ambush in Zamboanga del Sur

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - A president of the Association on Barangay Council (ABC) was injured while his companion was killed in an ambush Wednesday in a village of Pitogo town, Zamboanga del Sur, according to a police official.

The police identified the survivor as Noel Laurete Mojillo, ABC president and representative to the municipal council of Pitogo town, while his slain companion was Edgen Aguilar.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, Spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the victims were on board their service motorcycle bound for Barangay Liguac when they were waylaid and ambushed by seven gunmen armed with M16 and M14 rifles about 7:30 a.m. at Barangay Poblacion, the town center of Pitogo.

Mojillo who sustained two gunshot wounds were able to escape from their attackers  while Aguilar was shot at repeatedly and died on the spot.

The suspects fled to an unknown direction leaving the lifeless remains of Aguilar.

Responding police arrived and failed to catc the suspects but recovered several empty shells of ammunition believed to be dispensed from the rifles used in the attack.

The wounded town official was brought to the hospital for treatment.

Police investigators are looking into politics as motive of the ambush.