Intel operative killed in gun attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A military intelligence operative was killed while another was seriously wounded in a gun attack on Monday night by riding in tandem suspects in Jolo, Sulu, police said.

The slain intelligence operative was identified as Corporal Timhar Abdulkasim while his wounded comrade is Master Sergeant Datu Andan Duran.

Senior Supt. Antonio Freyra, Sulu provincial police director, said the victims were on board their service motorcycle when they were shot at Kakuyagan village about 9:30 p.m.

Investigation disclosed that the victims failed to notice they were tailed by the four suspects riding in tandem on two motorcycles that closed in and shot them several times, killing Abdulkasim on the spot and seriously wounding Duran.

Abdulkasim sustained several gunshot wounds in his body while Duran suffered a gunshot wound from his back which exited through his chest.

The wounded victim was initially rushed to the hospital in Jolo for treatment before he was airlifted by the United States military contracted helicopter for further treatment at the Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.

The military believed the attack on the victims was related to their job and suspected the Abu Sayyaf hit squad as the possible suspects in the gun attack.