By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities launched a manhunt for three gunmen who killed a government official in Basilan province, police reported Monday.
The fatality was identified as Czarina Mae Mustafa-Malun, the head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Basilan province.
The Isabela City police said the incident occurred around 11 a.m. in Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.
Police investigation indicated that the gunmen barged into the NCIP office, shot the victim at close range, and then fled.
Malun was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Lt. Col. Raymond Sanson, Isabela City police chief, has ordered an operation to track down and arrest the suspects.
Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman strongly condemned the killing of Malun and urged the police to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Malun was the third government official killed in Isabela City since February this year.
The first was Ricardo Laguardia, head of the secretariat of the Isabela City Peace and Order Council and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
Laguardia was killed in the evening of Feb. 20 in Barangay San Rafael.
The second was Tingan Pioquinto Mancenido, an employee of the Isabela City government.
Mancenido was driving his motorcycle to report for work when he was repeatedly shot by an unidentified gunman on March 24, in Barangay Tabiawan. (PNA)
