MANILA, Philippines--An informant of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) who allegedly refused a bribe from a suspected rice smuggler was gunned down in front of his house in Zamboanga City over the weekend, the anti-smuggling unit said on Tuesday.

The victim, Nurhassan Hadjula y Hassam, 47, a retired policeman, died due to three gunshot wounds to his head and body, the PASG said in a statement.

An unidentified assailant shot Hassam in front of his home in Purok Orchid, Zone two village last Sunday with a .45-caliber pistol and fled on foot, the statement said.

A day before the killing, Hadjula informed PASG chief Antonio Villar Jr. that he had turned down "grease money" from a suspected rice smuggler, whom he did not identify, it said.

"We suspect that this unnamed rice smuggler in Mindanao who imports rice from Malaysia is responsible in the gruesome murder of Hadjula," Villar was quoted as saying in a statement.

"The killing of Hadjula has only increased the burning spirit of the PASG to cripple the smuggling operations in Mindanao and to the extent of biting bullets with the syndicates," he said.

The PASG will provide financial assistance to Hadjula's family, according to the statement.