A village councilman was shot dead in broad daylight at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 21, at the bus terminal in Barangay Malinis, Lamitan City, Basilan province.
Lt .Col Elmer Solon, chief of the Lamitan police, identified the victim as Nadzri Asdana Tarahin, 40, an Islamic teacher and a councilman of Barangay Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo town, Basilan.
Police said Tarahin was waiting at the bus terminal when a gunman, wearing a jacket, approached and shot him.
After the incident, the gunman immediately fled on board a black pick-up vehicle. Another individual believed to be the look-out also fled on board a single motorcycle.
Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation that led to the arrest of two suspects, both residents of Barangay Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan in Basilan.
Recovered from the suspects’ possession were two caliber-45 pistols, magazines and live ammunition, one white ADV motorcycle with no plate number and thirty-four heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing two grams with an estimated market value of P13,400.
Investigators singled out ‘revenge’ as the motive for the killing.
Police were still in pursuit for another suspect known as alias ‘Nas,’ but did not elaborate what his role was in the crime.
The arrested suspects have been placed under the custody of Lamitan City Police Station and will be charged with murder, violations of Republic Act 10591 also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. /jpv