Ex-Davao del Norte DAR exec shot dead

TAGUM CITY—Unidentified men shot and killed the former provincial agrarian reform officer of Davao del Norte in front of a drug store here early on Sunday, police said.

Supt. Laudemer Laude, Tagum City police chief, said Nicasio Lemente, 68, and a resident of Mankilam village here, died from gunshot wounds in the body after being attacked by assailants on board a motorcycle around 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

The victim was on his way home after attending mass with his wife and had stopped to buy medicine at a pharmacy along Osmeña Street just several meters across the back of the police station when attacked, Laude said.

“It was a brazen attack as the old city hall and police station was just across the street,” Laude told Inquirer, adding policemen quickly responded but were not able to catch the suspects, who fled on a motorbike.

Laude said an investigation was now being conducted to identify possible motives and suspects behind Lemente’s murder.

“We will also determine if the victim had gotten threats before,” he said. RAM