Vendor gets note before death blow

MANILA, Philippines–A market vendor was handed a note by her killer before he shot her in the head shortly before dawn on Sunday in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Leona Reyes-de Leon, a resident of Trece Martires in Cavite province, was minding her meat stall at the Star Market, Quirino Highway, Barangay (village) Sta. Monica around 2:30 a.m. when she was approached by two men, one of whom gave her a piece of paper.

Written on it was this message: “’Wag tularan, estapadora ako (Do not emulate me, I am a swindler).”

According to a report from the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, De Leon’s killers, who have yet to be identified, pretended to be her customers.

After the man gave her the note, he shot De Leon in the head. When she fell to the ground, the other man shot her in the body. The gunmen then boarded a motorcycle and fled.

QCPD-CIDU homicide chief Insp. Elmer Monsalve said that De Leon may have owed somebody money although he pointed out that her killers may simply be using the note to “misdirect the investigation.”

He added that they were still looking for witnesses and any footage taken by security cameras to help them identify the gunmen.–Jaymee T. Gamil