(Eagle News) — The vice-mayor of the town of Sapa-Sapa in Tawi-Tawi province was shot repeatedly by an unknown gunmen on Wednesday, at around 5 pm, and was later declared dead after being brought to the hospital.
Vice-mayor Haji Al-Rashid Mohammad Ali Lipae was shot in Zamboanga City while trapped in rush hour traffic along Gov. Alvarez Avenue, just a kilometer away from downtown Zamboanga City, according to reports.
Four caliber 45 bullets hit the vice-mayor.
He was with his wife, driver and an escort when he was shot at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, July 11.
The gunman, who was reportedly initially riding a motorcycle, walked to the vice-mayor’s Innova van with plate number KDV-514, while traffic stalled vehicles in the area.
The vice-mayor was earlier reported in critical condition but later died while being treated at the Doctors hospital in Zamboanga City.
Police are now investigating the incident.
Vice-mayor Al-Rashid is the latest elected local government official to be killed in a recent spate of killings that came amid preparations for the May 13, 2019 national and local elections.
(Ely Dumaboc, Eagle News Service correspondent in Zamboanga City)