Banana plantation security chief gunned down in Tagum

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte–A former communist rebel who became a policeman before finding a job as chief of security on a banana plantation in Compostela Valley was shot dead by six suspected rebels here on Thursday, the police said Friday.

Superintendent Solomon de Castilla, Tagum police chief, said Mario Delumbar of the village of Pangi in Maco, Compostela Valley, sustained multiple gunshot wounds when he was attacked in Barangay Magdum here past 4 p.m.

The victim, who worked as security chief for Marsman in Compostela Valley, was going somewhere on a motorcycle when he was waylaid in Magdum, De Castilla said.

“After killing (Delumbar), the young-looking perpetrators took his pistol and fled on foot toward the direction of the Hijo River bank. The victim’s wallet was intact so we’ve discounted robbery as a motive,” he said.

De Castilla said the area where Delumbar was killed was the same place where three soldiers on a peace and development mission were killed by alleged communist hit men in January 2011.

The slain security officer was a former NPA rebel who joined the police after his surrender several years ago, De Castilla said. Recently, Delumbar retired from the police service and decided to work at the Marsman banana company.