Ex-convict gunned down in Labangon

Another ex-convict was added to the long list of victims of extra-judicial killings in the city yesterday, but police could not confirm if his death was the handiwork of suspected vigilantes.

Marvin Labrado, of A. Lopez Street, sitio Upper Bunboan, barangay Labangon, was driving his tricycle with his nephew when unidentified men waylaid him and opened fire, hitting him in the back of his head.

An eight-year-old boy, who happened to be playing near the crime scene, told The Freeman that he saw one of the men shoot Labrado.

The boy described the triggerman as below 30 years old and wearing a white t-shirt. He even showed police the area where the suspects sat and how they approached the victim.

Another witness said the gunman was following Labrado's tricycle before his three companions waylaid the victim.

PO3 Henry Estoy of the Homicide Section told The Freeman that the victim was sending his nephew, Renel Uliamot, to school when the attack happened. Estoy said Uliamot ran away upon hearing the gunfire and did not show up during the arrival of the police.

Labrado's live-in partner, Nancy Zapra, told The Freeman that she did not know that the victim gained enemies although she heard that he engaged in a heated argument with a group of youngsters last Monday.

On Saturday, Estoy said the victim reportedly scolded a group of young people and even mauled one of them. This information prompted police to suspect that the group may have something to do with the killing.

Police are now trying to contact the victim's nephew whom they believed could be of big help in their investigation.

JO1 Catherine Cintos of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center said that Labrado was detained at BBRC on February 13, 2002 for illegal drugs and was released on November 9, 2003. - Edwin Ian Melecio