Meat vendor shot dead in front of customers

MANILA, Philippines - A female meat vendor was gunned down in full view of her customers at the Blumentritt Market in Sta. Cruz, Manila early yesterday.

Police said Susan Obena, 52, a widow, was tending to her stall when one of two men riding in tandem alighted from a motorcycle and shot her repeatedly with an automatic pistol.

Witnesses said the victim, though wounded, pleaded with the gunman for her life and was overheard saying, “Huwag po, huwag po, wala akong kasalanan (Please don’t, please don’t, I have nothing against you).” However, the gunman continued to shoot at Obena.

The gunman, with the pistol’s silencer slung on his shoulder, walked toward his companion and the two men sped off towards Caloocan City, police said.

Obena was declared dead on arrival at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Police recovered empty shells and slugs from a .9mm pistol at the scene of the crime.

Chief Inspector Alberto Peco, who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District, ruled out robbery as the motive for the shooting since the victim’s belt bag containing her day’s earnings was left untouched.

Investigators are looking into reports that Obena, who reportedly had a live-in partner, sued several persons for paying her with bouncing checks.

Peco directed his follow-up team to secure witnesses in the shooting for possible identification of the suspects.