Ex-communist rebel shot dead in Compostela Valley

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines—Gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed a former communist rebel-turned-trader in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on Thursday, police on Friday said.

Ruel Labrador died from multiple gunshot wounds after being attacked in Barangay (village) Poblacion past 11 a.m., according to Chief Insp. Jerry Abrogina, officer-in-charge of the Monkayo police station.

Abrogina said initial investigation revealed that Labrador was riding on his motorcycle along a road in Poblacion when two assailants on another motorbike drove alongside him. The backrider then shot the 50-year-old victim several times using a handgun. The suspects then fled.

“He was allegedly a former NPA (New People’s Army) member and was now into banana trading after surrendering to authorities,” Abrogina told the Inquirer by phone.

Senior Supt Armando de Leon, the acting Compostela Valley police chief, said Labrador had standing arrest warrants for murder and other crimes./rga