Port official shot dead in Zamboanga

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A port official was killed today in a shooting incident in the southern Philippines, local police said.

The victim, identified as Abdulhamin Bandahala, assistant operation liaison of regional port authority of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao was shot to death inside a hotel in Zamboanga City around 7:45 a.m. local time, Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said.

The victim was identified based on the documents found on his possession, he said.

Cruz said one of the suspects is a police officer of Talipao Police Station in Sulu province.

"Heated argument ensued between the victim and the suspects followed by fistfight regarding the availability of rooms in the hotel, followed by shooting incident," Cruz said.

Local police is investigating the matter. (report from Philstar.com)