Rice trader gunned down in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - A rice trader was shot dead by at least five unidentified attackers while tending to his store in Malabon City Friday night.

Reynaldo Ayop, 45, a resident of Barangay Tonsuya, died on the way to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon due to bullet wounds in the head and body.

A bystander, Lolito Derder, 44, was hit by a stray bullet in the right arm and is still confined at the Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Police Officer 2 Rommel Habig said at least five gunmen appeared in front of Ayop’s rice store along Judge Jose Oreta street at around 8 p.m. while the victim was busy attending to his customers.

Armed with .45 and 9mm pistols, the suspects shot at the victim at close range without provocation.

Ayop was brought to the Pagamutang Bayan for treatment but was declared dead on arrival at around 8:30 p.m.

Witnesses said the suspects fired their guns in the air as they fled on foot toward Purok 6 in Barangay Catmon, a squatters’ area known as a haven for hired killers.

The Northern Police District-Scene of the Crime Operatives, led by Senior Inspector Margarita Libres, recovered at the crime scene seven .45 caliber shells, two .9mm shells and a slug.

Ayop is the 15th shooting victim in Malabon City over the past nine months wherein the gunmen used either a .45 or a 9mm pistol or both in executing their target.

Superintendent Reynaldo Orante, Malabon City acting police chief said yesterday they are still investigating whether Ayop’s murder was done by the same group believed to be behind a series of gangland murders in the city.