Yt Framework

Three unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle have killed a policeman, assigned to the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO- ARMM) based in Lamitan City, Basilan.

Killed was Police Officer 1 Ashri Naruddin y Nuh, 37, married, a native of Caluang, Sulu and temporarily residing at Waling-Waling Drive, Barangay Tugbugan in this city.

Naruddin was shot in broad daylight yesterday morning along the junction of Falcatan and Alfaro Streets in Barangay Tetuan, this city. He was the second policeman to be killed in the city in a month's time.

Last April 13, Police Officer 1 Florante Tuazon y Jurado, a member of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) assigned to the Public Safety Company, was also shot to death by unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle in tandem along Rotary Rotonda in the junction of Governor Camins Road in this city.

According to Tetuan Police Station commander Chief Inspector Elmer Acuña, the latest slain police officer sustained fatal gunshot wound in the head killing him instantly.

Police investigators together with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered a spent shell of Caliber .45 Pistol at the crime scene.

Initial investigation conducted by the responding local police disclosed that prior to the incident, the victim came from Waling-Waling Drive, Tugbugan and boarded a Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) with plate number JVE 199 owned by Salim Mustafa and driven by Sulaiman Mustafa bound to the city proper together with some other passengers.

According to the driver (Sulaiman Mustafa), the victim was already on board his PUJ when a passenger flagged down the vehicle prompting him to stop a few meters from the junction of Falcatan and Alfaro Streets.

Mustafa said that before the passenger was able to approach the PUJ, a motorcycle with three men onboard without any provocation shot the victim, who was seated in the passenger seat.

Witnesses said that the suspects sped off towards the city proper direction after the incident. Acuña revealed that continuous investigation is ongoing.

Personal grudge is being eyed by the authorities as the possible motive of the incident.

by: Eugene A. Lasprilla