Google map of Isabela City, Basilan Island province.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A former town official was killed while her husband was wounded in a predawn drive-by shooting incident in Isabela City of Basilan province on Tuesday.
Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said Melissa Alih, 30, died while her husband, Jack, 30, was hospitalized following the 12:10 a.m. attack.
Melissa was the former assistant municipal secretary in the island town of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
Verceles said investigation showed the couple was aboard a motorcycle on the way home to Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, when repeatedly shot at closed range by one of two men riding tandem on another motorcycle that tailed them in Barangay Doña Ramona T. Alano.
He said the attending physician declared that Melissa expired around 12:45 a.m.
Police investigators recovered four empty shells from a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.
A thorough probe is underway to determine the motive as well as identities of the perpetrators behind the incident, police said. (PNA)
