Trader slain in Isabela City, Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY –– A trader from Sumisip, Basilan was killed in Isabela City on Tuesday morning, July 2, according to the police.

Police Lt. Col. William Gadayan, Isabela City Police Station chief, said Hadji Hataad Mundi Astanan, a businessman and former treasurer of Barangay Upper Binembengan, Sumisip town, was gunned down in Purok Moonlight, Barangay Sumagdang.

Gadayan said their initial investigation showed that motorcycle-riding assailants attacked Astanan.

Police recovered four empty shells from a caliber-.45 pistol from the crime scene.

Gadayan said the motive of the attack was still unknown.

He said the Astanan family immediately recovered the victim’s body even before the police arrived at the scene to investigate.

Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman has ordered a police manhunt on the suspects and a thorough investigation on the killing.

Hataman said she wanted the police to immediately solve the shooting incident as “peace and security are two major concerns under my 9-point agenda.”

Astanan’s killing came a day after Hataman took the reins of Isabela’s local government.

“We want a community that is safe, secure and resilient,” said Hataman, who is on her first term as city mayor.