City hall worker shot dead

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An employee of the city government of Isabela in Basilan was killed in an ambush by motorcycle-riding men yesterday morning.

Carliecel Nuena, 53, was on a motorcycle on her way to work when she was killed in Barangay Sunrise at around 8 a.m. She was a utility worker at the office of the city mayor.

Investigation showed the assailant had been tailing the victim.

Nuena was the second city hall employee and the third to be killed within a period of a little over a week. She was reportedly a relative of the two other fatalities.

On May 14, city hall employee Karen Isabela Resurreccion was killed while her husband, Nelson, was wounded in an attack in Barangay Lanote.

Karen’s cousin, Gilbert Toledo, was also shot dead in the same village on May 10.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman ordered police to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the motive and identify and arrest the suspect.

Citing initial investigation, Isabela City police chief Lt. Col. Wilfredo Palamos said the latest incident may be connected with the attack on the Resurreccion couple.

Meanwhile, in Zamboanga City, a barangay kagawad was shot dead allegedly by his son-in-law following a spat at dawn yesterday.

Warlito Salvador, 57, died at the scene of the crime, which occurred at his house in Barangay Quiniput.

Alvin Francisco fled after the killing, but was arrested by responding police officers.

Investigation showed that Salvador was having a drinking session with his friend when Francisco arrived and shot him at close range.

Probers recovered a bullet shell for a .45-caliber pistol at the scene.

Police said the victim and the suspect had a quarrel the night before the killing.