Philippines Shooting: Mayor And Wife Killed

Pic of Mayor Ukol Talumpa at left

MANILA - A mayor from the southern Philippines and his wife have been shot dead at Manila's main airport.

A 25-year-man and an 18-month-old boy were also killed in the shooting.

Reports say the man was Labangan mayor Ukol Talumpa's nephew but the toddler was unrelated.

The assailants, who were wearing police uniforms, rode up on a motorcycle and fired at the mayor and his wife as they walked out of the terminal, said the international airport's general manager Jose Angel Honrado.

The gunmen then escaped.

At least five other people were reported wounded.

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.