Drug gang kills 71-year-old informant

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected members of a drug syndicate operating in Tondo, Manila gunned down a police informant and wounded another Monday afternoon.

Police said vendor Rosita Fernandez, 71, was walking along Mithi street at around 2:30 p.m. when two unidentified men approached her from behind and shot her. Though badly wounded, Fernandez tried to run but collapsed a few seconds later. One of the men then walked toward her and delivered the fatal shot.

Fernandez died of three gunshot wounds in the chest on the way to the Mary Johnston Hospital.

Another vendor, Elena Banayos, 57, was hit by a stray bullet. She had been tending to her ware a few meters away from where Fernandez was attacked. She refused to talk about the incident for fear of reprisal from Fernandez’s killers.

According to Manila Police District, Fernandez had been helping MPD police officers in their operations, the latest of which was the arrest of known pushers in the area.