Informant slain in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - A woman believed to be a police informant was shot dead while she slept in her rented room in Barangay Longos, Malabon City Wednesday night.

Witnesses said a man pushed open the unlocked door of 46-year-old Marilyn Cellon’s room, shot her in the right eye at around 10:30 p.m., and fled, leaving her roommate and her roommate’s 10-year-old son unharmed.

They told police the gunman had no shirt on and wore only denim shorts and a baseball cap he used to hide his face. The attacker has a tattoo on his upper back, they said.

Sources said the victim reportedly helped police in their campaign against the illegal drug trade in Barangay Longos, a known haven of criminals in Malabon City. Another one is Sitio 6 in Barangay Catmon, reportedly a refuge for contract killers since the area is host to a large squatters’ colony.

Newly installed city police chief Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Ampil said he has ordered investigators to quickly resolve the case, though he deferred to comment on reports that the victim was a police informer pending the results of the investigation. – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude