Couple killed in Zamboanga gun attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A businessman and his wife were killed in an attack by a motorcycle-riding assailant in this city yesterday morning.

Fathhie Loong and his wife Elma died instantly from gunshot wounds, according to Lt. Col. Paul Andrew Cortes, spokesman for the Zamboanga City police.

Investigation showed the couple and their four-year-old daughter arrived in Barangay Boalan at around 8:30 a.m. to inspect the construction of their store.

Loong went inside the site while his wife and daughter stayed behind in the vehicle.

Witnesses said the assailant pulled over and followed Loong at the site and shot him.

The assailant then went to the van and shot the victim’s wife twice.

The couple’s daughter was not harmed as her mother  apparently shielded her from the assailant, probers said.

The suspect escaped in the same motorcycle.

Probers recovered from the crime scene several bullet shells for a .45-caliber pistol.

It was the third killing perpetrated by motorcyle-riding assailants in this city this month.

Probers have yet to determine the motive for the killing and identify the suspect.