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Mindanao mayor shot dead at Manila airport

Politician, his family and small child killed in brazen attack
Mindanao mayor shot dead at Manila airport

Ukol Talumpa, mayor of Labangan in Zamboanga de Sur Province (picture: AFP Photo/STR)

Published: December 20, 2013 08:25 AM GMT
Updated: December 19, 2013 08:41 PM GMT

At least two gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed a mayor from Mindanao, his wife, nephew and an 18-month-year-old child in a brazen attack at Manila Airport on Friday.

Ukol Talumpa, mayor of Labangan in Zamboanga de Sur Province, arrived with his family shortly before midday when they were attacked by waiting gunmen outside the Terminal 3 building. Toddler Phil Tomas Lirasan was killed in the crossfire.

Security personnel tried to run after the attackers but they escaped, said airport General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.

There was no closed-circuit television installed in the area where the attack took place, he added.

Talumpa, who survived previous assassination attempts in 2010 and 2012, won a hotly contested local election for the Philippines main opposition party in May.

Three years ago he was wounded when two gunmen opened fire on his car in Manila after he was elected vice mayor as an independent candidate. Talumpa received death threats at the time, his wife – who also died on Friday – told the Philippine Star.

Last year men threw a grenade at his car in Pagadian City, Zamboanga, leaving three people injured. Talumpa and his wife were unharmed, according to media reports.

Mindanao has suffered a series of killings recently with three journalists shot and killed in recent weeks.

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