Building contractor killed in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA DEL CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 27, 2010) – A building contractor was killed despite a strict gun ban being implemented by authorities in an attack in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

Engineer Joselito Yanga, also the vice president of the local contractors called “Los Contratista”, was heading home on a motorcycle late Tuesday when he was shot in the head in the village of Guiwan.

Police said it still investigating the murder. “Engineer Yanga was a good man and a happy person and we were shocked to learn that he was shot and killed,” said Engineer Raymon Go, a local building contractor.

At least 15 gun attacks have been recorded in Zamboanga City since early January and all these occurred just as the police and military are implementing a nationwide gun ban.

The Commission on Elections ordered a six-month nationwide gun ban beginning January 10 ahead of the May national and local polls to minimize political violence during the election campaign period.

Only duty policemen and soldiers and members of law enforcement agencies are authorized to bear arms provided they have permits from the Commission on Elections exempting them from the gun ban.

But the order also put at risk many local gun owners who are receiving death threats. Hired killers are actively operating in Zamboanga City and had been blamed for many murders the past years. (Mindanao Examiner)