Jail officer shot dead in Liloan town

CEBU, Philippines - A jail officer was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Poblacion, Lilo-an town late afternoon yesterday.

The victim, Jail Officer Leo Labata, 45, was on his way home around 5pm when waylaid by the suspects just a few meters from his house.

Senior Insp. Richard Mansor Oliver, chief of the Lilo-an Police, told The FREEMAN that the assailants might have tailed Labata before shooting the victim. Labata sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body.

Labata was rushed to Eversley Child Sanitorium in Barangay Jagobiao Mandaue City but he was declared dead on arrival.

Vendors in the area where Labata was shot said the suspects did not even bother to cover their faces. The gunman also allegedly aimed his gun at the vendors as the two sped away.

Oliver said a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network also saw a motorcycle that matched the description of the motorcycle the assailants used.   

 Acting on the tip, a hot pursuit operation was hatched toward the neighboring Consolacion where the assailants reportedly escaped to, Oliver said.

“Sketchy pa kaayo atong report kay nag-hot pursuit operation mi karon,” he said as of early evening yesterday.

Oliver said it is possible that Labata was killed because in line with his work.   The victim is the brother of Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Simaco Labata. (FREEMAN)