DepEd exec in Basilan, wife slain in ambush

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) and his wife, a public school teacher, were killed and another one was wounded in an ambush in a remote village in Lamitan City, Basilan on Monday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Almer Ismael, Lamitan City police commander, identified the fatalities as Rodolfo Saaverdra, 64, a human resource and planning officer of the DepEd's provincial office in Basilan, and his wife Gloria, a public school teacher in Isabela City.

Ismael said Gloria’s sister -- Joy Cobico -- survived the attack, but was critically wounded and is presently confined in a hospital in this city.

Police investigators said the couple and Cobico were on board a motorcycle and were travelling along an isolated road near a rubber plantation in Barangay Maloong Canal when they were waylaid by an undetermine number of gunmen at around 2 p.m.

Police said the Saaverdra and his wife visit the place every weekend because Gloria was a native of the barangay.

Ismael said the attackers took the couple's motorcycle and used it as their getaway vehicle.

Police have yet to identify the couple's attackers and the motive for the killing.