Slain ‘farmer’ headed Central Luzon gun-for-hire gang – police

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – A 28-year-old farmer from Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija who was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding men in Talavera town last Nov. 9 has been tagged by police authorities as the leader of a gun-for-hire gang behind criminal activities in Tarlac, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.

Senior Superintendent Walter Castillejos, provincial police director, said the victim, Rodel Acosta, was the leader of the Acosta group which has victimized several people in the three provinces.

Acosta was gunned down by two men aboard an unlicensed Kawasaki Rouser motorcycle along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Pascual, Talavera town last Nov. 9.

Acosta, who was identified in initial police reports as a farmer, was with his mother Santa Diaz-Acosta at a spare parts store in San Pascual while having his motorcycle repaired after encountering engine trouble when he was gunned down.– Manny Galvez, Ric Sapnu