Thursday, October 23, 2008

Gun-For-Hire Killed In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 23, 2008) – A man implicated in a string of murder was shot dead at a military checkpoint after he tried to attack soldiers who tried to arrest him in the southern Philippines.

Romeo Bernardo, 35, who had been long wanted by authorities for his involvement in contract killings in the provinces, was himself killed after he tried to shoot the soldiers late Wednesday in Tambulig town in Zamboanga del Sur province.

Bernardo was driving his motorcycle when soldiers stopped him at the checkpoint after he had been positively identified as a wanted man. But instead of surrendering, Bernardo pulled his .45-caliber pistol and tried to shoot the infantrymen. One soldier was quick to draw his gun and shot Bernardo.

Police said Bernardo was a known gun-for-hire in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.

Meanwhile, an unidentified gunman also killed a store owner on Wednesday night inside his own house in Zamboanga City, police said.

Police said Joel Genturales, 45, was shot several times in the village of Baluno. The assailant fled after the shooting. It was unknown whether Genturales was alone in the house or not, but the gunman, police said, barged inside and shot the victim. (Erico Rosco)

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