Makati City government employee shot dead

MANILA, Philippines -  An employee of the Makati City government’s department of environmental services (DES) was gunned down as he was having lunch at a roadside eatery along J. Victor street in Barangay Pio del Pilar yesterday afternoon.

Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio said three unidentified men approached Mario Reyes, 52, from behind as he ate lunch at around 2 p.m. He said one of the men drew out a .38 caliber revolver and shot Reyes several times, then the attackers walked away and boarded a passenger jeepney.

According to his officemates, Reyes – who has worked with the DES since 1997 – was pulled out from field operations in July 2010, and did not mention of any threats to his life. “The victim was previously involved in several city hall operations against illegal vendors,” Bonifacio said.

Shortly after the incident, one of the attackers engaged policemen in a shootout at the corner of P. Medina and Pierce streets in Barangay San Isidro after the lawmen recognized him as one of Reyes’ killers. The attacker was killed and Police Officer 3 Julius Guerrero was wounded in the right arm.

Police recovered a .38 caliber revolver from the attacker’s body and will check if the gun was the one used to kill Reyes.