Shipping line owner shot dead in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A prominent shipping line operator here was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding men along a busy street in the city’s downtown area Thursday night, police said.

The victim, Faustino Saavedra, owner of the Ever Lines Shipping Co., together with his wife Floria, was cruising Mayor Jaldon street in Canelar when he was shot at about 6:20 p.m. with a caliber .45 pistol.

The assassins appeared to have followed Saavedra’s car, firing four bullets through the left windshield, hitting Saavedra.

Saavedra was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died while being treated. His wife was unharmed.

Detran said probers were looking into extortion as a possible motive in the killing, which occurred as a firearms ban is strictly being enforced in the city.

Col. Darwin Guerra, Task Force Zamboanga chief, appealed to residents to stay vigilant and coordinate with authorities to prevent similar incidents.