Batangas water district worker killed in ambush

ROSARIO, Batangas — An employee of a water district in Batangas was killed while his companion was critically wounded when they were ambushed after attending a court hearing here Tuesday morning, the police said.

Superintendent Arcadio Mission, Rosario police chief, said Frederick Asi and Joseph Lontoc, both employees of the Lobo Water District, were cruising Gualberto Avenue on board a Pajero service vehicle when a gunman fired at them with a caliber .45 pistol at the corner of Carandang street.

Asi died on the spot due to a single gunshot in the head, while Lontoc was hit in the chest.

Danilo Perez, manager of the Lobo Water District, who was with his two employees, survived the attack unscathed.

The police said the three had just attended a preliminary investigation of a water tapping case at the Taysan municipal trial court when the shooting happened. — Arnell Ozaeta