ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 12, 2014) – Gunmen killed a policeman in an attack Monday in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said SPO1 Mandu Abubakar Balahim was driving his motorcycle when gunmen attacked him around 5 p.m. near the Jumbo Bridge in the village of Tetuan.
Balahim, who was assigned in Isabela City in Basilan province, was shot at least 6 times by his attacker before escaping. Policemen who responded to the attack recovered 8 spent shells in the area.
The motive of the killing is still unknown.
Just recently, a 31-year old woman, Madelyn Basilio Almendras, was also shot and killed near the Jumbo Bridge. Almendras was on a motorcycle driven by her cousin Rodel Almendras when she was shot by one of two motorcycle gunmen who tailed them.
The woman was fetched by her cousin from the village of Putik and headed for home when the attack occurred. She was shot twice in the head. The details and motive of the killing is still unknown, but gun attacks are not uncommon in Zamboanga City where most of the killings have been blamed on guns for hire who are actively operating here.
Last month, a Muslim woman, Sitti Hanna Manolo, 23, was murdered in the Zamboanga village of Sangali. Manolo’s body sustained stab wounds and was discovered by villagers.
She was last seen on April 25 walking along the old Sangali village hall together with two unidentified male companions.
Last year, a lone gunman also shot and killed a 28-year old woman Sheenalyn Gregana in the village of Recodo. Gregana, who lived in Zambowood village, was shot in the face. (Mindanao Examiner)
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