Gunmen execute truck helper in Zamboanga Norte province

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 17): Gunmen execute truck helper in Zamboanga Norte province

Masked gunmen executed a cargo truck helper and shot and wounded his driver while four passengers had escaped the attackers in Zamboanga del Norte province, police said on Monday.

It said the truck was delivering grocery goods when three gunmen flagged down the driver, Joseph Alga, in the village of Upper Kauswagan in Baliguian town.

The gunmen demanded money from the driver and his helper Hanape Plantis and from two hitchhikers Mina Alamin and Cario Naong, who were with two children.

Police said the gunmen then took the driver and his helper and brought them to a grassy area where they had been shot several times.

The burst of gunfire prompted the hitchhikers and the children to flee from the truck and escaped.

Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, said Alga survived the attack and managed to drive his truck to the town’s center where he sought help.

He said policemen led by Senior Inspector Abubakar Ibno rushed to the village and found the body the truck helper.

They also recovered a hand grenade, bullet casings of .45-caliber pistols, a black bag, two t-shirts and a pair of short pants and a scarf left behind by the gunmen.

Police did not say who were behind the killing, but rebels and bandits are actively operating in the area.

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