Clan war eyed in teacher's slay

MANILA, Philippines - Police investigators are eyeing clan war as the possible motive in the ambush-slay of a male teacher in Quiapo, Manila on Friday.

According to case investigator Police Officer 2 Gerry Amores, he is ruling out drug-related motive in the killing since Thomas Castro, 30, a native of Mindanao, has no record of any involvement in drug-related activities.

At around 2:50 p.m. Friday, Castro was walking to his boarding house along Concepcion Aguila street when a man shot him in the head from behind. When the victim fell, the gunman made sure his attack will be successful by firing another shot in the victim’s head.

The gunman, described as between 20 and 25 years old, slim built, with dark complexion, and wearing a bull cap, walked away after the killing.

Amores said the victim was a schoolteacher who was applying for an overseas job. “The victim could be a target for liquidation from a Muslim clan his family may have tangled with in the past. Muslims usually put justice in their hands against any member of a family whom they perceived have wronged them,” he said.