|
Monday, November 07, 2005
Mayor, pal shot dead; 2 others wounded
By Cheng Ordoņez
With Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A town mayor of Sulu and a son of a prominent lawyer were shot dead at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday in Pasonanca, north of Zamboanga City.
The police identified the victims as Al-Khalid Caluang, 29 years old, married, mayor of Kalingalan Calaung town, in Sulu province, and Alusan Alam, 21 years old, married, a resident of 2nd Street, Navarro Court, Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City. Mayor Caluang has a house in this city.
Caluang sustained a gunshot wound in the face that exited on his right ear.
Alam, reportedly the son of a prominent lawyer, suffered a gunshot wound at the back of his head that exited in his forehead.
The two died while they were treated at the Ciudad Medical Hospital along Nuņez Extention.
Two other companions of the victim, identified as Abdul Atil Jasani and Habil Mutalib, survived the attack.
Initial police investigation disclosed that prior to the incident, a friend of Caluang called him up in his city residence in Saavedra Street, Sta. Maria village, and asked for assistance.
The mayor was on his way to help his friend when gunmen shot at him and his companions while they were inside their vehicle along Scout Limbaga in Pasonanca.
The gunmen escaped after the killings.
A kin of Caluang, in a fit of rage, alleged fired his gun indiscriminately at the junction of Maestra Vicenta in Sta. Maria and reportedly wounded a plainclothes policeman.
The police officer was identified as PO1 Edsil Neri, assigned with the Regional Mobile Group of the Regional Police Office 9 in Mercedez.
Neri was taking the catwalk pathway when the suspect fired indiscriminately, hitting him in the left arm and left thigh.
Autonomous region Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan ordered the police to hunt down the assailants of Caluang and investigate the motive for the twin killings.
"We will investigate the killings and we will not let any stones unturned. I ordered the police to hunt down those who are responsible for the killings," Ampatuan said.
Regional police chief Akmad Mamalinta said investigation is still going on. "We are now investigating the killings, and are coordinating with authorities in Zamboanga City to arrest the perpetrators," Mamalinta said.
The local police said they have yet to establish the motive for the gun attack, but authorities are trying probe if the shooting incident involving a kin of former autonomous region governor Farouk Hussein, who is a friend of the slain Caluang, is related to the Sunday dawn shooting.
The slain Caluang belonged to one of Jolo's most influential clan. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(November 7, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Nabbed man not Sayyaf leader Sahiron: police