ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — On Tuesday, a former town official was slain and her husband was injured in a predawn drive-by shooting in Isabela City, Basilan province.
Col. Richard Verceles, operations chief of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao, said Melissa Alih, 30, died after the 12:10 a.m. attack, while her husband, Jack, 30, was hospitalized.
Melissa was a former assistant municipal secretary in the Basilan island town of Hadji Muhtamad.
According to Verceles, the couple was riding a motorcycle home to Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, when they were shot at close range by one of two guys riding tandem on another motorcycle that tailed them at Barangay Doa Ramona T. Alano.
Melissa died about 12:45 a.m., according to the attending physician.
At the crime scene, police retrieved four empty shells from a.45-caliber pistol.
According to authorities, an extensive investigation is ongoing to uncover the purpose as well as the identities of those responsible for the act.
Source: PNA
