THREE people, including a teenager, were killed while three others were wounded and a village official cheated death in separate gun attacks by riding-in-tandem gunmen in Zamboanga Peninsula.
Killed were Sito Tanog, 28; his brother, Jovencio, 31; and Bemar Marikit, 13. Wounded were Luzminda Lamdag, 57; Joselito Marikit, 45; and Bearge Marikit, 10, said Zamboanga Peninsula police spokesman Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca.
Village chief Felix Sultan of Azusano, Titay municipality, Zamboanga Sibugay, cheated death after the gunman's handgun misfired.
The Tanog brothers were shot to death around 8:54 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Biswangan, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur.
Huesca said the Tanogs were eating breakfast when three gunmen arrived and shot the victims without any provocation.
Bemar Marikit, on the other hand, was with his father Joselito and sister Bearge when they were attacked around 6 p.m. Friday in Barangay Manga, Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur.
Huesca said the Marikits were preparing for supper when they heard their dogs barked, prompting Joselito to check who was outside. Two unidentified gunmen aboard a motorcycle suddenly arrived and opened fire, hitting the victims.
Bemar was declared dead on arrival while his father and sister were admitted at the hospital for treatment.
In the third incident, Lamdag was hit and wounded when motorcycle riding gunmen attacked four houses, including one owned by a village chief, around 1 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Dinuan, Salug, Zamboanga del Norte.
Lamdag is the sister-in-law of Dinuan village chief Florentino.
Aside from the houses of the Lamdags, the other two houses that came under attack were owned by Melchor Tagulob, and Ruel Español.
The victims were asleep when the suspects arrived and opened fire.
All of the incidents are being investigated to identify and arrest the suspects, Huesca said.