VIDEO: Shooting at NAIA Terminal 3, 4 dead

MANILA, Philippines – The mayor of Zamboanga Del Sur was gunned down at the airport Friday. The volley of fire not only killed his wife and nephew but also an 18 month old bystander.

Carmela Fonbuena reports.

It’s the third attempt on the life of Balangan, Zamboanga Del Sur Mayor Ukol Talumpa.

They got him this time at the NAIA-3 airport- a place that is supposed to be secure. He, his wife, his nephew and a baby who just happened to be nearby were killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen. The killers pretended to be cops.

AISHA TALUMPA, SISTER IN LAW OF TALUMPA: Nagulat po lahat. Pumunta lang sila dito para magbakasyon kasi ang mga anak niya dito nag-aaral. Masakit po talaga kasi mag-asawa sila e. Naubos silang dalawa. Paano ang mga anak nila. Si Allah na lang bahala magturo sa tao na masama balakin sa kapwa.( Everyone was surprised. They’re in Manila for a vacation because their children study here. It’s really painful because both parents were killed. How about their children? Allah will teach those with bad intentions towards their fellow men.)

The first attempt on the mayor’s life in 2010 also happened in Manila, across the street from his recruitment agency in Leon Guinto.

ABDUL NASSER ANGKAN, FRIEND OF TALUMPA: Noong una po doon, sa tapat ng business nya. Binaril din siya. Nasa loob sila ng kotse pero hindi sila napuruhan lahat. Nakaganti sila. (The first attempt happened across his place of business. He was also shot. They were inside the car but they were able to fight back.)

The second attempt happened in Pagadian City in Zamboanga Del Sur. Two men lobbed a grenade at the mayor’s car. Talumpa and his wife were unharmed. Politics is the usual suspect but Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles says the mayor has been actively campaigning against illegal drugs.

Caught in the crossfire between the Mayor and his gunmen is 18-month-old baby Phil Tomas Lirazan.

FELIPE LIRAZAN, BABY’S UNCLE:Isang ikot na lang ma-pick up ko na pamilya ko. Kung hindi ako natrapik umabot ako. Nag-usap pa kami one minute before kausap kami sabi ko malapit na kami. After one minute, nagputukan na. Matagal mam umabot sa 15 bago mga putok, mga tuloy tuloy mga sampu di tumiigil pumutok uli. (A short distance more and I would have been able to pick them up. If there wasn’t any traffic, I would’ve made it. I even spoke to them a minute before, I said I was near. After one minute, the shooting started. The shooting went on for a while, 15 rounds continuously.)

The Talumpas flew into Manila from Zamboanga del Sur and the Lirazans from Bacolod City for the same reason — to celebrate Christmas in Manila.

FELIPE LIRAZAN, FATHER: Ano na lang, siguro magcelebrate na lang ng Chirstmas na masaya yung bumaril diyan. Sila na lang magcelebrate na masaya. Sige lang, may panginoon naman tayo. At diyan naman tayo pupunta. Pana-panahon na lang yan. (Let them celebrate their Christmas. We have a god and we’ll all go to him anyway. Everyone has their day.)

Another tragedy in a very challenging year.
Carmela Fonbuena, Rappler, Pasay City.  – Rappler.com