6 people killed, 3 injured in Zamboanga Sibugay shooting

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Six persons, including an 8-year old boy, were killed while three others were critically injured in an attack by armed men in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday, authorities said Friday.

The attackers intended to target members of the Kabasalan police and mistook the victims for police officers, according to Senior Supt. Cleve Taboso, chief of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Office.

“The attack was intended for our police forces,” Taboso said. The armed men mistook those civilians as members of the Kabasalan police.”

He said four victims were instantly killed, including the boy. Two others died on Friday.

Taboso said the victims, all residents of Barangay Cainglet, were gathered in front of a repair shop, where a patrol car belonging to another town was being repaired, when the two armed men – riding in tandem – arrived and opened fire with M-16 rifles.

Supt. William Gadayan, commander of the Zamboanga Sibugay Public Safety Company, said the adult victims were having a drinking session outside the repair shop – which was about 600 meters away from the Kabasalan town hall – when the two men arrived around 10:45 p.m.

Gadayan said the armed men started shooting as soon as they arrived.

Taboso said the Kabasalan police have been active in the campaign against drugs and criminality.

He said a manhunt had been launched against the suspects. /atm/rga