Vice mayor of Barira town in Maguindanao shot dead

A local official in Maguindanao province was shot dead in Davao City on Sunday by gunmen whom police said looked like they were still in their teens, police official said. The victim was identified as Alexander Tomawis, vice mayor of Barira town. He was shot in the head at around 10:45 a.m. in Buhangin district, according to Supt. Querubin Manalang, spokesman of the Southern Mindanao Police Regional Office. The suspects reportedly shot Tomawis after approaching him to ask for his signature on a document, said Manalang. Citing witnesses, Manalang said the suspects looked like teenagers. The victim, who was with his security detail at the time of the shooting, was immediately rushed to the Davao City Doctors’ Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Police are still investigating the motive for the killing, Manalang said. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo immediately formed a task force to look into Tomawis' killing. In his Twitter account, Robredo noted that a quick solution of the case "could prevent further escalation" of violence. - Larissa Mae Suarez/KBK/YA GMANews.TV