ZAMBOANGA CITY – A barangay captain from Zamboanga Sibugay province and his brother, a former barangay councilor, were gunned down in a busy intersection here on Sunday night, September 3.
Police identified the fatalities as Jul-Asmad Mawajil Anjawang, 56, barangay captain of Mamansaan, Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay, and his brother, Jamar Mawajil Anjawang, a former Barangay Mamansaan councilor.
Investigation said the fatalities and two passengers were travelling in their pickup truck and stopped meters away from an intersection.
Two armed men alighted from a Toyota Wigo and fired at both sides of the vehicle.
The companions of the fatalities, a militiaman and the driver, were wounded.
The fatalities were taken to a hospital where they were declared dead.
The gunmen fled toward Barangay Baliwasan here.
Police are conducting pursuit operations, set up checkpoints, and conducted “Oplan: Sita” in the vicinity to arrest the suspects.
A passenger who refused to be identified said nobody among the passengers, including the militiaman, were armed due to an existing gun ban due to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October.
The victims attended a wedding here and were on their way home to Zamboanga Sibugay when they were waylaid.
Police are eyeing politics and land dispute as possible motives.
The shooting incident was the first recorded during the barangay election period here.