Police said a lone gunman followed the victim, Ramon Yu, manager of the RFC Marketing here, as he opened his office and aimed a caliber .45 pistol at him.
Yu managed to grapple for the gun until it went off, alerting people nearby who, in turn, called the police for help.
The suspect, Rodolfo Lirio, 23 of Simbuco, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, rushed out of Yu’s office after his gun went off but responding policemen eventually collared him.
Lirio confessed that he was hired to kill Yu by a certain Subaer, an alleged henchman of a former mayor in Salvador town.
Lirio said he was paid an initial P5,000 and would receive an additional P55,000 if he completed the job.
Lirio gave his written confession to the police in the presence of his lawyer. He named the former Salvador mayor as the one who allegedly masterminded the failed killing.