Murder suspect killed in NBI custody

A 25-year-old balut vendor, earlier picked up by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation for a murder case, turned up dead before reaching the NBI headquarters Thursday night after he was gunned down for allegedly attempting to snatch the gun of the leader of the arresting team.

Police identified the fatality as Christopher Ladiao, a native of Balangkayan, Eastern Samar, with his last address at 2244 M. Natividad street, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Ladiao sustained three gunshot wounds in the body and was declared dead on arrival at the Philippine General Hospital.

According to a report submitted by the NBI to the homicide investigators of the Western Police District, Senior Agent Allan Contado, chief of the NBI intelligence special operation division, together with five of his men, served a warrant of arrest to the victim on a squatter’s area on Antipolo street in Sta. Cruz.

Ladiao was reportedly wanted for a murder case at the sala of Judge Arnulfo Bugtas of Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Borongan, Eastern Samar.

The report stated that while Ladiao was being brought to the NBI headquarters along Taft Avenue on board a Mitsubishi Adventure van (XCW-568), the victim allegedly tried to snatch the gun of Contado.

That during the scuffle the gun fired off hitting Ladiao three times in the body.

Police probers are now conducting a follow-up investigation on the incident. – Nestor Etolle