
PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2013) – Motorcycle gunmen shot dead a village chieftain ahead of elections in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines, police said Tuesday.
It said Rudolfo Lao, Jr. was heading home on a motorcycle in Sominot town from Pagadian City when attacked by gunmen who were tailing him.
The attack occurred in the village of Upper Sicpao, Lao was the chieftain of the neighboring village of Tungawan.
Police said forensic investigators recovered 7 bullet casings fired from a .45-caliber pistol in the area. It said two gunmen were involved in the attack
It said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the head and body.
No individual claimed responsibility for the killing which occurred ahead of the October polls. It was unknown whether the murder was connected to politics or not.
Police are investigating the killing. (Mindanao Examiner)