Taiwanese trader shot in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 7, 2010) – Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded a Taiwanese trader in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, police said Sunday.

Police said one of three gunmen shot Jung Fa Yeh Lai at a wharf on Saturday afternoon and escaped by motorboat after the attack. The 30-year old Lai was rushed to hospital by villagers.

Lai is into export of marine products, but it was unknown how long the foreigner had been in Zamboanga. Local police officials did not answer phone calls from journalists who were trying to get details of the attack or who were behind it.

Gun attacks in Zamboanga are not uncommon with random killings largely blamed by the police and military to guns-for-hire that are operating actively in the city and nearby provinces.

At the main police headquarters in Manila, spokesman Agrimero Cruz said the foreigner, who owns JC Import-Expert Marine Product, sustained bullet wounds in the body.

Cruz said initial investigation claimed the gunmen were armed with automatic weapons. (Mindanao Examiner)