THREE persons, including a businessman and a former policeman, were killed, while another was unscathed in two separate drive-by gun attacks in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City, the police reported Tuesday, January 12.

Police Captain Edwin Duco, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninusla information officer, identified the fatalities as Abdulsamad Hasan Acang, 43; Wilfrido Montuno, 54; and Jose Buhat.

Unscathed was Acang's wife, whose name was not mentioned in the report of the police in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, according to Duco.

Duco said that Acang, a businessman, was fatally shot by one of two motorcycle-riding men who tailed the couple.

The couple was traversing the national highway around 5:25 p.m. Monday in Balintawak village, Pagadian City aboard a three-wheeled vehicle locally known as "Bao-Bao" when attacked.

Duco said Acang suffered six gunshot wounds and died on the spot.

The gunmen, armed with a caliber .45 pistol, sped off and remain unidentified, according to Duco.

He said the police in Pagadian City eyed family feud as motive in the incident.

Meanwhile, Montuno, a former policeman, and Buhat were found lying in prone position along the road and bathed with their own blood around 8 p.m. Monday in Maasin village, Zamboanga City.

Duco said investigation showed the two victims were on the way home aboard a motorcycle when shot by one of two motorcycle-riding gunmen who tailed them.

Recovered from the crime scene were six empty shells and one slug of .9-mm pistol.

Investigation was ongoing Tuesday to identify and arrest the assailants. (SunStar Zamboanga)