
BASILAN PROVINCE (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 15, 2013) – An identified gunman shot and killed Thursday an employee of a farmers’ cooperative in Basilan province in the southern Philippines, police said.
Police said Joseph Fernandez was on a motorcycle when shot in the village of Sengal in Lamitan City. Fernandez worked as a finance officer with the Arco Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative in the province.
The gunman took Fernandez’s bag before escaping and police are looking into robbery as the possible motive for the killing.
Just on Wednesday, motorcycle gunmen also shot a college student, Hadzmin Ilaham, 20, outside the Basilan State College in Isabela City.
The assailants fled after the shooting and police are investigating the attack to determine the motive and the identities of the gunmen.
Police said Ilaham is a resident of Sumisip town. Gun attacks are not uncommon in Basilan, particularly in Isabela City where the spate of shootings have caused fear and anxiety among civilians. (With a report from Richard Falcatan)