Gov. Barbers’ aide shot dead by cop

SURIGAO CITY — A personal bodyguard of Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers was killed in a gun duel with a policeman in front of the governor’s office here yesterday.

Police said Ronnie Alburo, a former policeman, died before reaching the hospital from several gunshot wounds from a caliber .45 pistol.

His enemy, SPO2 Julieto Yonzon, sustained three gunshot wounds from Alburo’s 9-mm pistol but was declared out of danger.

Stray bullets hit three people during the shootout which, probers said, stemmed from an old grudge between Alburo and Yonzon.

Both men provided security to Barbers and were active in his anti-illegal drugs drive. — Ben Serrano