ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 22, 2014) – One person was shot dead late Tuesday in another attack on a village in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, police said.
Police said the 21-year old John Rey Altamia was shot several times by a lone gunman in Talon-Talon village. Forensic investigators recovered at least 4 bullet casings in the area.
Altamia was driving his pick-up truck when the assailant attacked him. The motive of the killing is still unknown, but the series of killings in Zamboanga City had claimed more than a dozen victims so far this month alone and there is no sign that it will ever stop.
On July 21, a 66-year businessman Francisco Molenio, Sr was also killed by two armed men who tailed him on a motorcycle in Cawit village.
Molenio, who owned a store selling electrical items, was travelling on a multi-cab with his three employees when gunmen attacked him. He died instantly from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the police. His employees escaped unscathed from the attack.
A man, Marlon Suan, 21, was also shot and wounded in the village of Curuan also on July 21. The victim, a native of Labason town in Zamboanga Del Norte province, was rushed to hospital after villagers found him inside a nipa hut.
On July 18, one gunman also shot dead Marlon Tarroza and wounded his companion, Raymark Ramos, at Cabato Road in the village of Tetuan. Police said the attacker, Jomari Moya, was arrested along with another man, during a police operation. The killing, according to the police, was connected to a feud between the two groups.
Gun attacks were not uncommon in Zamboanga City and many of the murders had been largely blamed to hired killers who are actively operating here. (With a report from Ely Dumaboc)
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