Jeep barker killed in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 14, 2009) – Unidentified gunmen killed a passenger jeep barker in an attack Tuesday morning in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police said Reynaldo Apolinario was shot several times as he was driving his motorcycle near Daisy Rd. in the village of Guiwan. Residents in the area said they heard gunshots at around 5.30 a.m., but ignored it for fear the attackers would turn on them.

Police said it is still investigating the murder, but suggested that the killing was connected to an old grudge. Investigators said they found empty shells of .45-caliber pistol near the body of Apolinario.

Summary execution is not uncommon in Zamboanga City where most of the killings were blamed by authorities to hired murderers. 

Last month, a 14-year old boy, Benjamin Mariga, was arrested by traffic aides and later found his body on a remote village with 14 knife wounds. (Mindanao Examiner)