Samar town environment officer shot dead

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – Police are hunting down two men behind the killing of the community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) of Sta. Rita, Samar who was gunned down in his residence here Friday night.

Senior Superintendent Wilson Caubat, city police chief, said he has formed a task force that would investigate the killing of Piere Gillo, 51, who had served as CENRO of Sta. Rita town for the past three years.

Gillo, who sustained four gunshot wounds, was known for his strong advocacy against illegal logging and pouching in his area of jurisdiction, for which he had reportedly received death threats.

Gillo, according to the initial investigation, got a text message to get out of his house as his service vehicle was damaged.

Primitivo Ganito, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, called on the police to do their best to solve the killing.