4 slain in Zamboanga gun attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – At least four persons, including two political supporters and a soldier, were killed while another was wounded in separate gun attacks over the weekend in what was described to be an incident undermining the strict gun ban implementation in this southern port city. 

The latest attack was on Sunday when two men were fired upon inside a karaoke bar, a few hundred meters away from the city’s central police office along Calixto street.

Police identified the victims as Radie Indasan, an Army, native of Jolo, Sulu; and Nixon Adil, businessman. Both died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds while the wounded was Nul Ibno.

Investigation showed that the victims were having a drinking spree inside the bar when two unidentified men entered the establishment and fired on them with .45 caliber pistols several times before escaping on foot casually. 

A day earlier, another two persons, who were supporters of a barangay candidate for the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were also killed.

The victims were identified as Eugene Villablanca and Rassi Iso, who died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds from a .45 caliber pistol fired by two unidentified suspects.

Witnesses said the suspects barged into the bar where the victims were drinking liquor and fired on Villablanca. Iso tried to pacify them but was instead shot and killed. 

City police director Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo said the attack was not election related and appeared to be more on personal grudge as the motive. 

“It’s not election related. Politics here has not gone to such senseless level,” De Ocampo said.

However, De Ocampo said the incident prompted them to mount the gun ban implementation even as patrolling police have been instructed to check on all suspicious looking individuals on the streets.