Village exec killed in Isabela, Basilan; 4th since January

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur –– A barangay kagawad was shot dead in Isabela City, Basilan on Thursday morning, Sept. 5, the fifth attack on Basilan village officials since January this year, four of which resulted to death.

Lt. Col. William Gadayan, Isabela City police chief, identified the victim as Mario Japal, a barangay councilor of Maligue, Isabela City.

Japal was driving his motorcycle to work around 6 a.m. when unidentified armed men attacked him. He died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds, said Gadayan,

Police recovered spent shells from a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Gadayan said they were still establishing the motive of the shooting.

Before the attack on Japal, three other Basilan village officials were gunned down in Isabela City.

They are Hadji Hataad Mundi Astanan, barangay treasurer of Upper Binembengan, Sumisip; Kamsain Nasirin, barangay chair of Bulan-Bulan, Lantawan; and Jimnu Ladja Hamad, barangay chair of Marang-Marang, Isabela City.

In one attack, also in Isabela City, the victim, Mahmor Amputo Barahim, barangay chair of Tong Umus, Tabuan-Lasa, survived./lzb