A TOWN official, his aide and security were killed while another survived, though wounded, in an ambush in a remote barangay of Zamboanga del Norte, a police official said Saturday, January 11.

Police Major Edison Alviar, police chief of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, identified the slain town official as Vice Mayor Gani Esmali of the municipality Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte.

The other two fatalities were Patrolman Godelito Corbita Bungcac, Esmali’s security escort, and Jaymalin Jalabi Tunggal, the mayor’s aide. The other victim, Abdulajid Ibno Bairula, survived but was wounded. He is admitted at the Siocon District Hospital.

Alviar said the victims were ambushed around 11:20 a.m. on Saturday at Sitio Barazon in Sta. Maria village, Siocon.

He said investigation showed that Esmali and his companions were aboard a sports utility vehicle traveling to Siocon town proper coming from Baliguian municipality when ambushed by five unidentified gunmen.

Investigation further showed the suspects fled aboard a pick-up vehicle towards the municipality of Baliguian.

Alviar said recovered from the crime scene were 49 empty shells of M-16 Armalite rifle and one long magazine loaded with 18 live ammunition of the same caliber. He said they are conducting an in-depth probe over the incident to unmask the perpetrators. (SunStar Zamboanga)