Zamboanga del Sur mayor, wife, nephew buried in hometown

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Labangan town Mayor Ukol Talumpa, his wife and nephew were buried Saturday morning in a Muslim rite in their town amid tight security, according to official.

The remains of Talumpa, his wife Leah and nephew Kharib Udin Talumpa were flown via airforce C-130 cargo plane and arrived about 6 a.m. Saturday in Pagadian airport and transported to the adjacent town of Labangan.

The remains of the 18-month old relative  of the Talumpas, Philip Thomas Estuesta, were buried Manila.

Police  said hundreds of supporters, relatives and constituents of the late mayor attended the burial.

The relatives and supporters of the Talumpas expressed outrage over the death of their leader and blamed politics and rido as the motive behind the murder.

Talumpa, his wife, nephew and Estueta were killed Friday morning in the loading area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 3 by gunmen wearing police uniforms while five others were wounded in the attack.

Inspector Benigno Meneses, Labangan police station chief, said security measures have been stepped up  in the town to avert possible revenge by the supporters of the late mayor against any perceived rival of the Talumpa family.