Village councilor gunned down in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A village councilor of a coastal village in Zamboanga City was gunned down by unidentified riding-in-tandem killers Tuesday night, police said. 

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, Spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), identified the victim as Armilette Aquino, 40, a village councilor of Barangay Sinunuc. 

Investigation disclosed the victim was riding his motorcycle alone when the triggerman riding in tandem, who was tailing Aquino from behind, shot him several times about 6:45 p.m. at sitio Caragasan, a beach front area of Barangay Maasin.

Aquino fell on the pavement from his motorcycle and died on the spot due to several gunshot wounds before the suspects escaped. 

Residents in the area heard at least 4 rounds fired and responding police recovered empty shells believed to be discharged from a .45 caliber pistol. 

Village official could not offer any possible motive of the gun attack citing that victim had no known enemy since he was only in charge of the village committee on beautification.

But police are looking into personal grudge as possible angle into the gun slaying incident.