Village exec hurt, driver killed in Basilan ambush

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 3, 2023): Village exec hurt, driver killed in Basilan ambush (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

AMBUSH. A village chief and his two companions are wounded while his driver was killed in an ambush in Lamitan City, Basilan province, on Monday afternoon (April 3, 2023). The victims were on their way home when ambushed by still-unidentified gunmen. (Courtesy of Ronda del Basilan)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A village official and two others were wounded while the official’s driver was killed in an ambush in a remote area in Basilan province, a top police official said Monday.

Lt. Col. Arlan Delumpines, Lamitan City police chief, said the incident occurred around 3:50 p.m. in Barangay Maloong San Jose.

Delumpines identified the slain driver as Omar Akirin, who died on the spot.

Wounded were Robert Jalal, village chief of Simbangon, and his companions, Akil Nasala and Sali Muslimin.

Delumpines said investigation showed that the victims were on their way home when a group of unidentified gunmen fired at them from an elevated area.

“It is also possible that the incident was related to a dispute involving the family of the village chief,” he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198819