ZAMBOANGA CITY – An undetermined number of gunmen strafed the house of a political leader of Bayog town Mayor Celso Matias in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, police said Monday.
Police said the target of the attack was the 38-year old Saldy Lazaga. The man, his wife Anadelia, 31; and their two children managed to escape from the attack and sought safety to a neighbor’s house about meters away.
Lazaga told police investigators the attack occurred at 1.30 a.m. on April 15 in the village called Camp Blessing. “All victims were unharmed. The suspect of the strafing incident is still unidentified. During the ocular investigation, there were 16 fired cartridge cases of caliber 5.56 mm recovered at the crime scene and 14 bullet holes found at the walls of the victim’s bedroom,” said Maj. Shellamie Chang, the regional police spokesperson.
“Saldy Mainar Lazaga is an active leader of the incumbent mayoralty candidate Celso A. Matias, of Lakas-CMD party. The incident is suspected to be election-related,” she added.
The mayor did not issue any statement, but political
elections in the South are traditionally violent. Filipinos are set to vote in
the May local and national elections. (Mindanao Examiner)
