Labor leader’s son shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - The son of a labor leader was shot dead yesterday morning by an unidentified gunman he was guiding around in his family’s apartment building in Barangay Sambag II, Cebu City.

Richard Seno, 51, succumbed to a gunshot wound in the nape when the gunman, pretending to be looking for an apartment unit to rent, shot him at close range from behind. 

Seno is the youngest son of Lawyer Cecilio T. Seno, vice chairman of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and president of Vimcontu Broadcasting Corporation which operates radio station dyLA.

Homicide investigator Lou Pagara said the victim manages the family’s apartment business in Sambag II. According to Pagara, the gunman inquired from a lodger if a unit is still available because he is interested to rent.

The assailant immediately inquired about the owner and asked if he could be introduced to him. Thinking that the man was really interested to rent a unit, the lodger introduced him to the victim.

Seno guided the assailant towards the third floor of the apartment building where the vacant units are located. However, upon reaching the second floor the man shot him from behind.

Seno died on the spot while the gunman, who was wearing a black shirt with stripes, fled towards a waiting motorcycle.

Seno’s father, who is also former commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and Social Security System (SSS), said he was not aware of any threat against his son. He also does not know if his son had enemies.

Pagara believes the perpetrator may have been hired because of the manner the crime was executed. Investigators, however, maybe aided by security footage obtained from a closed-circuit-television (CCTV) camera.— (FREEMAN)