Basilan town councilor hurt in gun attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A town councilor of Basilan was wounded in a gun attack Friday afternoon by unidentified riding-in-tandem assailants in a west coast village in this city, police said.

Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Luis Licup, Western Mindanao police director, identified the wounded victim as Adzrie Ain Bud, 47, indigenous representative of Maluso town council and brother of Mayor Hani Bud of Maluso town.

Licup said investigation showed the victim was aboard his sports utility vehicle with his wife, driver and bodyguard when they were attacked about 5:30 p.m. along the highway at Barangay Upper Calarian.

Police said the victim and his companions came from a hotel and were on their way to visit a relative when two unidentified suspects aboard a motorcycle followed and fired at the passenger side where Bud was seated.

Bud, who sustained three gunshot wounds on his right hand, right side hip and upper right body, was rushed to Ciudad Medical Hospital for immediate treatment.

The suspects quickly escaped towards the west coast direction and left only three empty shells believed to be fired from a caliber .45 pistol as evidence.

Licup said the police personnel of Police Station 8 have been directed to investigate the motive behind the crime, not discounting the possible angle of politics and personal grudge.