By Teofilo Garcia Jr. | Philippine News Agency
Authorities have launched a manhunt after assailants ambushed and injured a municipal council aspirant and two of his supporters in Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur province, police said Wednesday (April 9).
Col. Bonifacio Arañas, Zamboanga del Sur police director, said he has alerted police forces in neighboring towns to conduct a dragnet operation.
The victims were identified as Falconeri Buton, 53, incumbent barangay chairperson of Upper Panikian and a candidate for municipal councilor; Jerry Birano, 30; and Janise Bayawa, 50.
Two other supporters of Buton, identified as Joe Honey Cabante, 28, a job order employee, and Rey Cañete, 32, were unharmed.
Investigation revealed that Buton was driving a vehicle issued by his barangay, accompanied by his four supporters, when they were ambushed by gunmen in Barangay Upper Panikian, Pitogo, according to Arañas.
Responding police officers rushed the victims to the Pitogo Rural Health Unit for initial treatment before they were transferred to the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Medical Center in the provincial capital Pagadian City.
Police recovered nine empty shells from an M-14 rifle and 20 empty shells from an M-16 rifle at the ambush site.
Buton is running under the party of Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu, who is a candidate for mayor in Pagadian City. (PNA)
