By Edwin Fernandez
MALABANG, Lanao del Sur – Unidentified gunmen killed a village chairperson in Lanao del Sur and wounded his companion in an ambush in Barangay Montay here Wednesday morning, police said.
Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), identified the victim as Binhar Jalambre Alon Jawad, 25, chairperson of Barangay Baraas, Picong, Lanao del Sur.
He said Jawad’s companion, Norhan Comilao Sarip, 20, was injured and is recovering at a district hospital in Malabang.
Responding police found the victims inside a black Toyota Fortuner and transported them to the Montaner district hospital in Barangay Mable, where Jawad was declared dead on arrival, Ventura said.
The Malabang police reported that the victims were en route to Barangay Bacyawan, Malabang to attend a graduation ceremony when they were ambushed at about 10 a.m.
As their vehicle passed through the diversion road in Barangay Montay, five unidentified suspects opened fire, hitting Jawad, who was driving, in multiple parts of his body.
Empty shells from an M16 rifle were recovered at the crime scene.
Police said Jawad’s body has been claimed by his family.
The motive for the attack remains unknown. (PNA)
