Sharia court employee shot dead in Jolo

MANILA, Philippines –  A Sharia court employee was shot dead by a still unidentified suspect in Jolo, Sulu, on Wednesday, March 4.

Court interpreter Ibnohajar Puntukan – earlier described by police as the First Sharia Circuit presiding judge – was driving home to Barangay Alat when he was attacked at around 2:45 pm in Barangay Raymundo, police investigators said.

Puntukan, 63, was rushed to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for treatment but died at 10 pm the same day. 

Police investigators are still determining the motive behind the crime.

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said in a statement that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has directed Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Deputy Court Administrator Raul Bautista Villanueva to head to Jolo on Monday find out the status of the police investigation. – With reports from Richard Falcatan/Rappler.com

Editor’s note: In the earlier version of the story, we wrote that court interpreter Ibnohajar Puntukan is the First Sharia Circuit presiding judge, based on information provided by the police. We have since corrected this.