According to a GMA News TV Live report Friday, the witness was just three feet away from Talumpa, his wife, and other members of his family when they were shot by a lone gunman five days before Christmas at the loading bay of the NAIA Terminal 3.
“This witness saw the alleged gunman shoot the couple at close range, and that witness heard alleged gunman utter this ‘Mayor, mayor, para kay Kitty Nandang ito!’ Dinig na dinig daw ito at kilala ‘yung gunman,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters Friday.
Kitty is the nickname of former Labangan Mayor Wilson Nandang, Talumpa’s political rival who has been on the government watch list on drug traffickers. He is believed to be the leader of the Nandang-Afdal drug group.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said Talumpa may be the victim of a drug war in Zamboanga del Sur, noting his campaign against drug use.
The DOJ is still studying the option of providing security to Talumpa’s family, the GMA News TV Live report said.
De Lima said at least two witnesses would be put under the Witness Protection Program.
Other than the mayor, Talumpa’s wife Lea, his nephew Salipudin Talumpa, and 18-month-old infant Phil Thomas Estoesta, who just happened to be near the target, were also killed in the shooting incident. Four others were wounded, including the baby’s mother.
A CCTV camera installed at the site was not working at the time of the incident, which happened during the peak season for Chrismas holiday travelers.
Talumpa had been the subject of two failed assassination attempts before he was killed.
In September 2012, Talumpa, then Labangan vice mayor, was the target of a grenade attack in Pagadian City. He and his wife survived the attack, but his security officer was hurt.
In November 2010, Talumpa was wounded along with his nephew Alimodin Silad after a shooting incident in Manila. They were leaving a building in downtown Manila in a car when they were shot. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News
