Militant group spokesman shot dead in Bicol
11/11/2009 | 06:13 PM
(Updated 10:49 p.m.) A local spokesman of militant party-list Bayan Muna was shot dead in Camarines Sur province in Bicol, a radio report said Wednesday.
Radio dzXL said Bayan Muna leader Rodrigo de Torres was aboard a motorcycle in Del Gallego town when at least seven unidentified armed men opened fire on him.
According to another radio report, De Torres was herding cattle in an area about 100 meters away from his residence when he was ambushed.
The party-list spokesman, also a former barangay (village) captain, was a leader of a local peasant organization and was supposed to attend a farmers' convention before he was killed.
Police investigators are looking into possible motives and suspects behind the incident. They are verifying witness accounts that the assailants were armed with M16 rifles.
GMANews.TV tried to contact Bayan Muna officials to get their reaction but they could not be reached as of posting time.
The killing took place on the eve of the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Militant groups had vowed to stage protests against Clinton, who will arrive in Manila on Thursday en route to Singapore to attend a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). - Andreo C. Calonzo, GMANews.TV
Radio dzXL said Bayan Muna leader Rodrigo de Torres was aboard a motorcycle in Del Gallego town when at least seven unidentified armed men opened fire on him.
According to another radio report, De Torres was herding cattle in an area about 100 meters away from his residence when he was ambushed.
The party-list spokesman, also a former barangay (village) captain, was a leader of a local peasant organization and was supposed to attend a farmers' convention before he was killed.
Police investigators are looking into possible motives and suspects behind the incident. They are verifying witness accounts that the assailants were armed with M16 rifles.
GMANews.TV tried to contact Bayan Muna officials to get their reaction but they could not be reached as of posting time.
The killing took place on the eve of the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Militant groups had vowed to stage protests against Clinton, who will arrive in Manila on Thursday en route to Singapore to attend a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). - Andreo C. Calonzo, GMANews.TV
