A GOVERNMENT employee was shot and killed in the province of Basilan, the police reported Monday, August 29.

The Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula identified the fatality as Arsad Jakaria, 54, an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Mafar-Barmm).

Police said Jakaria was shot by an unidentified gunman around 7:54 p.m. Sunday, August 28, in Purok Almaciga, San Rafael village, Isabela City.

Investigation showed that Jakaria was outside his house when shot in the forehead with a caliber .45 pistol by the suspect, who immediately escaped.

The police said that Jakaria was to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Investigation continues to establish the motive and the identity of the suspect, the police added. (SunStar Zamboanga)