A VILLAGE official was killed in an ambush-style shooting incident in the province of Basilan, the police reported Thursday, September 5.

The fatality was identified as Mario Japal, a councilor in the village of Maligue, Isabela City, Basilan.

Lieutenant Colonel William Gadayan, Isabela City police chief, said Japal was killed in an ambush around 6 a.m. Thursday in the village of Maligue.

Gadayan said investigation showed that Japal was driving his motorcycle on his way to report for work in the village of Cabunbata in the same city when ambushed by an unidentified gunman.

He said an in-depth probe is underway to establish the motive and unmask the perpetrator. (Bong Garcia)