Zamboanga del Norte town mayor’s niece shot dead

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—A niece of the mayor of Sirawai town of Zamboanga del Norte was shot in Sahaya, Barangay San Vicente on the night of Saturday, May 7.

Police Major Shellame Chang, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 9, said Sitti Warna Pawai Sala, 33, resident of Barangay Sirawai Proper and a job order worker of the Sirawai local government, was shot while inside a house of a relative in Sahaya, Barangay San Vicente on Saturday.

Chang said Sala was a known supporter of Aljzar Janihim, the son of the incumbent mayor of Sirawai Gamar Janihim and Sala’s uncle.

“She was sitting beside the open door of the house when suddenly the suspect appeared and shot her in the head,” Chang said, citing the initial investigation report.

The Sirawai town police said the suspect was wearing a police officer’s uniform.

But Police Capt Alexie Palisoc and personnel from the 2nd Zamboanga del Norte Mobile Force Company later found the suspect’s getaway motorcycle at Sitio Maasum of the town’s Barangay (village) San Nicolas where it crashed. The suspect was later arrested.

Police brought the suspect, a certain Anhar Tunggal Montong, 24, resident of the town’s Barangay San Roque, to the Sirawai Health Unit for medical treatment, according to Police Sgt Carding Unding, investigator of the case.

Police recovered two .45 caliber pistols, two short magazines, one magazine for a 5.56 mm pistol and assorted ammunition.

Montong claimed he committed the crime along with Saiben Alipon Jakaria, a resident of Barangay Montivo, Sibuco town.

/MUF