Police investigate the murder of Aurelia Ablao in Isabela City in Basilan province in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Richard Falcatan)
BASILAN PROVINCE (Mindanao Examiner / July 27, 2013) – Motorcycle gunmen shot and killed a woman and wounded her husband in attack in Isabela City in the restive southern Filipino province of Basilan, police said Saturday.
It said the couple was heading home on a motorcycle from a cockpit arena after winning a game when gunmen attacked them in the village of Menzi late Friday.
The woman, Aurelia Ablao, tried to escape from her attackers, but she was shot in the head as she ran for safety. Her husband, Virgilio, was also shot, but managed to flee from the gunmen.
Police said the gunmen took the woman’s bag containing some P50,000 in cash believed to be part of the winning in the gambling, and the husband’s .45-caliber pistol.
Robbery was likely motive of the attack, according to the police, but gun attacks are almost a common occurrence in Isabela, the provincial capital, where hired killers and Moro rebels are active operating.
The latest murder brought to 5 the number of killings in just a week time.
Basilan is one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao. (Richard Falcatan)
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