Senior Army officer gunned down in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A senior military officer known for operations against the Abu Sayyaf was gunned down Sunday night outside his house in a village in this city.

Police identified the victim as Lt. Col. Cristobal Julian Paulo Pacificador Perez, 46, currently assigned as division staff commander for personnel of the Army's 1st Infantry Division based in Labangan town in Zamboanga del Sur.

Perez, known as "Tiny", was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1993 and a veteran in the government's anti-terrorism campaign. His last stint was as commander of the 18th Infantry Battalion, which helped neutralize Malaysian bomb expert Mohammad Najib Hussein, alias Abu Anas, in Basilan last year.

City Police Office director Superintendent Luisito Magnaye said Perez was gunned down about 9:20p.m outside his house at 1st Street, Aurora Village, Barangay Guiwan.

Reports said Perez was home for Father’s Day. He is survived by his wife and three children.

According to investigators, an unidentified person reportedly called up and talked with Perez, prompting him to leave his house through the back door.

Maj. Gen. Gerrardo Barrientos, 1st Army Division chief, said the victim's wife said she heard a burst of gunfire soon after the phone call.

Perez suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the nearby Zamboanga Peninsula Hospital for treatment but expired an hour later, according to police.

The killer, believed to be with a companion, escaped on board a motorcycle.

Responding police personnel recovered four empty shells believed to be discharged from a .45-cal pistol.

Police and military officials believe the shooting could be related to Perez's stint in Basilan.

Magnaye said Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) ‘Tiny’ has been formed to dig deeper into the shooting. “Perhaps it could be job related but there are several motives we are trying to establish,” he said.