AMBOANGA CITY (March 30, 2010) - A restaurant owner was shot dead Monday night in a continuous outbreak of violence in Zamboanga City.
Arnold Zabala y Evancea, 40, married, of Guiwan and owner of the popular Flavorite Restaurant, was shot dead by one of two gunmen outside the residence of his mother along Gov. Lim Avenue. He is the brother of Eraserheads bassist Buddy Zabala.
City Police Director Sr. Supt. Edwin De Ocampo said Zabala sustained a bullet wound in the left cheek and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
De Ocampo said that Zabala and his mother had just arrived at the house aboard a car after coming from Budgetwise Convenience Store when gunmen opened fire on him.
The police chief said the shooting happened after Zabala's mother went inside her house while Arnold and their housemaid, a certain Neneng, were unloading grocery items from the car.
Two men aboard a Skygo motorcycle appeared and the backrider approached Arnold and shot him hitting in the cheek.
The gunman boarded the motorcycle that sped away while Zabala was rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center where he expired while undergoing treatment.
Investigators recovered a spent shell of 9mm pistol at the crime scene.
On June last year, Zabala's brother-in-law James Ramirez was shot dead by one of two motorcycle riding gunmen near the regional office of the Department of Social Worker and Development.
De Ocampo and his investigators suspect the killing of Zabala was related to the death of Ramirez as they had been receiving threats from an unidentified man who had told them that they will be killed one by one.
Arnold left behind a wife and three young children.
The shooting incidents in Zamboanga City have alarmed many residents. At least 54 people had been killed in gun attacks since early this year despite a strict implementation of the gun ban. Most of the cases remain unresolved.
