Witness in General Santos bomb attack shot dead

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – A witness in the bomb attack in a department store in General Santos City seven years ago was shot dead Friday morning by two motorcycle-riding assassins while standing in front of a government elementary school there, police said.

Gerry Ocampo, one of the witnesses in the Fitmart department store bombing on April 21, 2002 that killed 15 people and injuring 60 others, died of multiple gunshot wounds.

“Binaril siya ng dalawang mga suspect na nakasakay sa isang motorcycle na walang plate number. Tinamaan siya sa ulo at sa likod,” said SPO2 Rex Diongon, chief of the Makar police station.

Diongon said Ocampo, a funeral parlor employee, was shot several times by two men riding in a motorcycle while standing in front of Saway elementary school in Barangay Labangal in General Santos City past 11 a.m. Friday.   – Ramil Bajo