ZAMBOANGA CITY — Mayor John Dalipe has strongly condemned the killing of a couple in Boalan and ordered the police to immediately arrest the perpetrators.

Authorities said the couple – Fathie Bara Loong and his wife, Bairivalia were killed in a gun attack in Barangay Boalan shortly before 9:00 am of January 22.

The couple’s four-year-old daughter who witnessed the gruesome murder, was unscathed.

Police said the gunman approached and gunned down Fathie, who was inspecting the construction of their store, and later shot Bairivalia, who was sitting next to her daughter on the passenger seat of a delivery van.

“This dastardly and cowardly act of violence has no place in Zamboanga City which continuously values and promotes peace among its culturally diverse communities,” Mayor Dalipe said in a statement posted on his facebook page.

Dalipe ordered the Zamboanga City Police Office to immediately arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He likewise called on the security sector “to intensify stringent security measures in light of the existing gun ban due to the 2025 elections.” (CMO-PIO) (file photo)