ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 6, 2014) – A state auditor was fatally shot in an attack Thursday evening by motorcycle gunmen in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said.
Police said the 54-year old Ester Galarosa was driving her car with another auditor when gunmen attacked them near a police outpost just outside the Santa Cruz market. Galarosa was with another auditor, Renella Abella, 52, who was unscathed from the attack.
The victim’s brother Jun told the radio station dxRZ Radyo Agong that Galarosa died in the hospital.
“My sister died in the hospital. She had been getting death threats, but let’s leave it to the police to investigate this report,” he said.
The victim’s car bore bullet holes in the front, side and at the rear and police recovered at least 11 bullet casings from the area.
Galarosa, who works for the Commission on Audit in Basilan, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, was rushed to hospital.
Police could not say whether the attack was connected to the victim’s work or not, but authorities are investigating the shooting.
Gun attacks are not uncommon in Zamboanga City where hired killers are actively operating. Many of the killings in Zamboanga remain unsolved. (Mindanao Examiner)
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