ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/12 August) – A Commission on Elections official in Basilan was shot dead by unknown assailants yesterday.
Daryl Kinazo, 45, the election officer of Isabela City, Basilan, was shot by two mean aboard a motorcycle around 3 p.m. in Barangay Baluno, Isabela City.
Kinazo, who was initially reported to be critically injured, was rushed to the Basilan General Hospital and later transferred to a hospital in Zamboanga City where he was declared dead on arrival.
The victim was driving his motorcycle on his way home to Barangay Balobo in Lamitan City from Isabela City when the suspects got abreast and shot him repeatedly.
The official had just come from the Isabela City gymnasium where he supervised the holding of registration for persons with disabilities.
Police are eyeing two possible motives behind Kinazo’s killing.
Supt. Allan Nazarro, Isabela City police chief, said the motives could be work-related or personal.
Nazarro said that Kinazo had applied for transfer to Sumisip town due to pressures caused by “stiff political rivalry in his present area of responsibility.
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The victim served as the election officer of Al-Barka town in the last elections where he proclaimed Mohammad Kabukisan as the elected town mayor despite strong protests from the other candidates, he said.
The other motive could be marriage-related since the victim had been separated from his wife who is already living with another man, the police official added.
Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar strongly condemned the killing of Kinazo and urged the police to do everything to unmask the killers. (MindaNews)