THE cousin of an elected town official was killed in a gun attack in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police said Thursday, June 13.

The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office identified the fatality as Sammy Nian, 35, a resident of the village of Bulanit, Labangan town.

The police said the victim is the cousin of vice mayor-elect Matt Nian of Dinas, Zamboanga del Sur.

The victim was shot dead around 7:20 a.m. Thursday along Rizal Avenue in San Pedro village, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur, the police added.

Investigation showed that Nian was fatally shot by one of two men riding on a motorcycle when the tricycle the victim was riding stopped to drop off two other passengers.

The police said that investigation continues in a bid to identify the suspects, who sped off after the incident. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)