Manila: Police authorities in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, said the perpetrators in the recent ambush-slay of a village chairman in the area could be in retaliation for his relentless drive against illegal drugs.

According to Philippines News Agency, Maj. Aljun Besario, the municipal police chief, said investigators are focusing on the identities of two persons of interest in the murder of Bernaned Acosta Barua on Aug. 24. 'We have two people whom we believe were behind the attack against Chairman Barua,' Besario said in a radio interview on Friday.

Barua, a 53-year-old two-term village chairman of Bannawag, President Quirino, was shot dead while he and his wife were on a noon break at a roadside buko juice store on the ill-fated day. Besario said two men on a motorcycle came speeding and stopped in front of the unsuspecting village official, then shot him with a 9mm pistol.

'He is very active in anti-illegal campaigns and our partner in crime prevention,' Besario said of Barua. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to various parts of his body and was declared dead on arrival at the Tomboc Salayog Hospital in Tacurong City. 'Barua may have earned the ire of drug personalities and their cohorts who the police have arrested with the help of officials,' Besario said.

'We strongly condemn this senseless act of violence that claimed the life of Barangay Captain Barua,' Besario said, even as he assured the victim's family and the public that the incident was being taken seriously.