Quirino environment exec gunned down while on duty

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – A community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) in Madella, Quirino province cut short his New Year revelry early yesterday to attend to his duty. He met his death instead.

CENRO Alfredo Almueda, 59, had to leave his drinking buddies after reports reached him that illegally cut lumber being transported would pass by one of the checkpoints that he and his men had put up.

But while Almueda, who lived in the Maddela town proper, and two of his men were waiting for the contraband in Barangay Villasur, he decided to take a rest in the service vehicle of the Department of Environment and Natural Resouces (DENR) local office.

Moments later, Almueda’s vehicle was fired at, hitting him in the right eye. He did not reach the Maddela District Hospital alive, said Senior Superintendent Domingo Lucas, Quirino police director.

The victim’s service car had 11 bullet holes, Lucas said.

Police said 22 spent cartridges from a 5.56-caliber pistol were found at least 10 meters away from  Almueda’s vehicle.

Investigators were still clueless on the killing.