MAYOR AND WIFE WERE SHOOT AND KILLED AT PHILIPPINE CAPITAL AIRPORT

MANILA, Philippines - Gunmen opened fire outside Manila international airport on Friday, officials said, killing four people including the mayor of a town in the southern Philippines, where political violence is endemic.

Terrified men and women screamed and cried while a man, apparently fatally wounded, lay face down on the pavement outside the passenger terminal in a video clip uploaded to the local GMA television network’s website.

The dead included Mayor Ukol Talumpa of the southern town of Labangan, his wife, his 18-month-old grandson and a male aide, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters.

“I understand that was the third attempt on the life of the mayor and this time the culprits succeeded,” de Lima said.

“It’s extremely deplorable that even the wife, grandson and a staff (assistant) were also killed.” 

An airport policeman, who asked not to be named, told AFP he was on duty about 10 metres away when the mayor and his party were attacked. 

“I heard gunshots so I whipped out my pistol and ran to the area. But the gunman had fled. He had an accomplice on a motorcycle,” said the officer. 

• Local newspapers have reported that Mr Talumpa, then a vice mayor of Labangan, and one of his nephews were wounded in a similar attack in 2010 in Manila. 

Last year, a grenade was lobbed at Mr Talumpa and his wife but they escaped unhurt. He was elected mayor earlier this year.

There was no word on a possible motive but political killings and assassinations are not unusual in the Philippines - hundreds of people have died. 

Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport is named after prominent opposition politician Benigno Aqunio, who was shot dead there in 1983 as he arrived home from self exile.

His son, also Benigno Aqunio, is now president.

Source: Agencies