Labor lawyer critically hurt in shooting

BATANGAS, Philippines – A labor lawyer is now in critical condition after he was shot in front of his law office in Sto. Tomas town yesterday morning, police said.

Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Batangas police director, said lawyer Joseph Pajanustan was still unconscious as of press time at the St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center due to a gunshot wound in the head.

Police said Pajanustan also serves as the executive vice president of Obrero Filipino, a labor group of Korean-owned Ho-Woo Garment Factory.

Reports said Pajanustan was standing on a balcony adjacent to his apartment when a man wearing a baseball cap approached him from behind and shot him with a caliber .45 pistol at around 7 a.m. yesterday.

A police prober said the lawyer was talking to someone on his cell phone when he was attacked.

Witnesses said the gunman fled on foot toward Dimayuga Subdivision. Police found an empty caliber .45 shell at the crime scene.

Probers said Pajanustan recently won a labor case against the Ho-Woo Garment Factory.