ZAMBOANGA CITY: Two motorcycle-riding gunmen shot and wounded a village official on Sunday afternoon in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga. The assailants escaped after the shooting that wounded Arola Salvador Lopito, a councilor in the village of Patalon. The 55-year-old official was heading home on a motorcycle with two passengers when the gunmen, who were tailing them, shot Lopito. Lopito's passengers were unhurt from the attack which occurred ahead of the village elections in October. It was unknown if the attack was politically motivated or not. Lopito was rushed by civilians to the hospital and police mounted an investigation into the shooting. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the shooting, but gun attacks are not uncommon here due to the presence of hired killers.
