Labor leader escapes slay try in Compostela Valley

A labor leader survived a slay try on Tuesday morning by an unidentified motorcycle-riding gunman while he was on his way to a banana plantation in Compostela Province, a spokesperson of an advocacy group said.

Elizar Diayon, spokesperson of the Banana Industry Growers and Workers Against Sumifru (Bigwas), identified the victim as Victor Ageas, a plantation worker and a member of PP340 Workers Union, a group affiliated with Kilusang Mayo Uno.

The gunman shot Aegeas four times at Purok Uno in Barangay Osmena, Compostela town. But he managed to escape.

Ageas is one of the labor leaders who staged a protest caravan on September 4 urging the banana company to regularize all its employees.

Diayon said they had monitored at least three motorcycles tailing Ageas that day.

Ageas was shot four times but was able to fend the attack.