Crime group leader slain in Pagadian City; businesswoman wounded

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 12 (PNA) -- A suspected crime group leader was killed while a businesswoman was injured in a shooting incident perpetrated by riding-in-tandem gunmen in this city, a police official disclosed Thursday.

Supt. Glenn Dulawan, local police chief, identified the fatality as Arnel Hasim, 33, a resident of Barangay Balangasan, this city.

Wounded was Bernadeth Ybañez, 26, a businesswoman and a resident of Bagumbang, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental.

Dulawan said investigation showed Hasim was at a vulcanizing shop when shot by one of two men riding tandem in a motorcycle that passed by around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday along Consolacion Street, Barangay Sto. Niño, this city.

He said Ybañez was hit by stray bullet while she was also at the vulcanizing shop waiting for the tire of her motorcycle to be mended.

Dulawan disclosed that Hasim is allegedly the leader of crime group known as the “Tampipi group” based in the nearby province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said Hasim has a standing warrant of arrest for the crime of frustrated murder.

He further disclosed the motive could be related to family feud since the relatives of Hasim are in a fight against another family in the town of Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay. (PNA)
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