Newly-elected b'gay chief survives ambush in Zambo Sur

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A newly-elected barangay chairman was wounded in an assassination attempt on Sunday in downtown Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, police said Monday.

Police identified the victim as Abdul Racman Talumpa, 48, elected chairman of Barangay Dalapang, Labangan town, an adjacent municipality of Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the victim was travelling on board his service when he was ambushed by two motorcycle-riding gunmen along FS Pajares Avenue in Sta. Lucia district at around 12:45 p.m.

The victim sustained a bullet wound in his neck.

Police investigators were looking at the possibility that the attack was related to the recently concluded barangay elections.