ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 14 Nov) – A former town mayor in Zamboanga Sibugay was killed while two others were wounded in a drive-by shooting Thursday in this city.
Two others escaped unscathed in the incident that took place around 11 a.m. in Barangay Tetuan, according to Chief Insp. Elmer Acuña, commander of the Police Station 6.
Killed was Arsenio Climaco, former mayor of the municipality of Tungawan.
He expired while under medical treatment at the Western Mindanao Medical Center (WMMC).
Wounded were Climaco’s wife Helen and grandson Shalimar Apidol, 9, who is incidentally celebrating his birthday today.
The two who escaped unscathed were elders sisters of Shalimar, but Acuña withheld their names. They were reportedly seated at the back seat.
Acuña said investigation showed that Climaco was driving his vehicle on the way home when the gunmen on a motorcycle approached them and opened fire upon reaching the San Bernardino Bridge in Barangay Tetuan.
The former town mayor and his family members came from the 29th death anniversary of former Zamboanga City Mayor Cesar Climaco, a well-known Marcos critic during Martial Law who was gunned down in 1984. They are not however related.
The victims were on the way home to Barangay Cabaluay in time for Shalimar’s birthday celebration.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said they were saddened by the incident. She led the commemoration of her uncle’s death anniversary.
“We condole with the family of former Mayor Arsenio Climaco,” she added.
Acuña said they are looking into all possible motives in a bid to establish the identities of the riding-in-tandem suspects.
