American diver in Jesse Robredo search shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - The American deep-sea diver who helped in the search and retrieval for the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo was shot dead in a subdivision in Las Piñas City, Thursday night.

Matt Caldwell, who helped in the operation to recover Robredo following a plane crash off Masbate in August last year, was killed during an altercation with a security guard at Hamilton Heights.

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Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Armand Balilo said that Caldwell came from a meeting with the agency'sauxiliary divers when he figured in an altercation with the security guard.

Balilo said Caldwell was shot dead at point blank range.

The United States Embassy in Manila has started an investigation into the diver's killing.