Shariah court judge gunned down

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines- A Shariah court judge was gunned down in a village outside Jolo in Sulu on Wednesday afternoon. 

Task Group Zambasulta identified the victim as Ibnohajar Puntukan, a resident of Barangay Alat and presiding judge of the 1st Shariah Circuit Court.

Investigation showed the victim was driving his service vehicle on his way home when a lone gunman shot him at close range.

The suspect boarded a motorcycle that sped off toward an unknown direction.

Police said bystanders brought Puntukan to the Sulu Provincial Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that the killing was job-related.

Supreme Court (SC) spokesman Theodore Te said Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez or Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva would be sent to Mindanao on Monday to investigate the killing.

Te said Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno met with Marquez and Villanueva upon hearing about Puntukan’s death.

Te said the SC would issue a statement after confirming the details of the incident. – Roel Pareño, Evelyn Macairan