AN ELECTED official in Tawi-Tawi was killed in a drive-by gun attack at a busy street in Zamboanga City, the police reported on Wednesday, July 11.
Senior Inspector Shellamie Chang, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) information officer, said the incident happened around 5:07 p.m., Wednesday near a funeral parlor along Gov. Alvarez Avenue in the village of Camino Nuevo.
Chang identified the victim as Al-Rasid Mohammad Alih, 53, the vice mayor of Sapa-Sapa town in Tawi-Tawi.
Chang said initial investigation showed Alih was aboard a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) together with his family when shot by one of two men riding tandem in a motorcycle that overtook the SUV in a busy street.
Alih and his family just came from a shopping mall at the time of the incident.
Alih, who sustained two gunshot wounds, expired several minutes later while under treatment at a hospital.
Chang said investigation continues in a bid to identify and possibly arrest the suspects one of whom clad in black jacket and the other in strip polo shirt.
Alih was the fourth elected official who was gunned down since last week in the country.
The first was the Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanuan, Batangas on July 2; second, Mayor Ferdinand Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija on July 3; and, Vice Mayor Alex Lubigan of Trece Martires, Cavite on July 7.
The gun slay of Alih took place after the City Peace and Order Council have tackled issued related to the series of shooting incidents in this city and possible counter measures to contain the incidents in a special meeting on Wednesday, July 11.
So far, the gun slay of Alih was the seventh shooting incidents that were recorded to have taken place since July 1 in Zamboanga City. (SunStar Philippines)