THREE persons, including a candidate for municipal councilor and a village official, escaped unscathed in an election eve gun attack in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Monday, May 13.

Brigadier General Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 12, in Purok Tula Tula in the village of Tarakan, Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur.

Licup identified the would-be victims as Totoy Pendaton Marcaban, 37, a candidate for town councilor; village Councilor Abdulgani Paragunan Esmael, 54; and Hassim Dilagan Esmael, 54.

Investigation showed the three were aboard a sports utility vehicle when Marcaban, who was driving, noted two unidentified persons aboard a motorcycle tailing them. Marcaban then heard bursts of gunfire.

Licup said the gunmen fled toward Sitio Baka in the village of Tarakan after the incident.

Joint police and military personnel launched pursuit operation but failed to locate the gunmen.

Investigation continues to establish the motive and identify the persons behind the incident, said Licup. (SunStar Philippines)