Zamboanga Sibugay village exec killed; suspect nabbed

PAGADIAN CITY—Police have arrested a suspect in the killing of a village councilman last Thursday in Diplahan town, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Police Col. Alberto Larubis, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, identified the suspect as Richard Pamagan, 44, a resident of Barangay Pamoli-B in Diplahan.

Pamagan allegedly was driving the motorcycle used by the gunman to flee after shooting Guinoman councilman Cristuto Halop, 67, inside the barangay hall on Thursday noon.

Halop was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, becoming the fifth village official in Mindanao to be killed within the election period when a gun ban is in effect.

Larubis said investigators recovered nine fired cartridges and a slug of caliber .45 handgun from the crime scene in Diplahan, adding that they are still establishing the motive of the attack.

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