The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a hunt for the killer of a Zamboanga City barangay councilor.
Barangay Manicahan Councilor Julambri Utubara, 28, was shot dead at about 1:20 a.m. Saturday along Martha Drive in Barangay Sta. Catalina.
According to Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., director of the Zamboanga City Police, Utubara was riding his motorcycle when a gunman driving another motorcycle fired at him.
The victim was taken to the Zamboanga City Medical Center but was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
Investigators recovered two empty .45-caliber shell casings at the scene. The shooter also took the victim’s mobile phone before fleeing, police said.
Barangay chairperson Erolyn Barredo noted that Utubara, who also worked as an event planner and had previously served as Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson of Manicahan, usually stayed overnight at a friend’s home in Sta. Catalina following late-night activities because their barangay is far from the city proper. She added that Utubara had no known enemies.
Authorities said they are reviewing closed-circuit television footage in the vicinity of the shooting and looking into a possible motive, which remains under investigation.