THREE people, including a rice trade couple, were killed in a gun attack by suspected extortionists in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, the police said.
Chief Inspector Malahai Said, Sirawai police chief, identified the fatalities as Allan Satera, his wife, Florgyn, 39, and son, Michael 15.
Wounded were Satera's other two sons namely Mike John, five and Mark Simon, nine and another worker’s son, Hamja Lumina, two. They were taken to the Rural Health Unit (RHU).
The police official said the incident occurred around 6:32 p.m. Friday at Sitio Narra in the village of San Vicente, Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.
The couple were tending their rice mill together with three workers and a baby sitter when three unidentified gunmen arrived, Said added.
He said one of the suspects shot and hacked to death Allan while the other fatally shot his wife, who was at the cashier’s counter.
The police official said Michael was shot dead when he arrived aboard a motorcycle while the suspects were leaving the rice mill.
The identities of the three workers and the babysitter were not immediately known. They were unscathed.
Recovered at the crime scene were nine empty shell of caliber .45 pistol, six empty shells of 9-mm pistol, two empty shells of Garand rifle and two deformed slugs.
Said added that extortion is the possible motive since as couple have reportedly received demand letter prior to the incident.