Gunmen kill gov't employee in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – Two men riding a motorcycle together shot dead an employee of the city’s natural resources office on Tuesday, just more than a year after the victim survived the first attempt on his life.

Supt. Leo Ajero, chief of the Kidapawan City police, said the 40-year-old Agustin Abiquebel was riding his motorcycle on his way to his early morning work shift when the suspects overtook, blocked his path and shot him with handguns.

Abiquebel died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained in the attack.

Ajero said investigators are convinced the gunmen were hired and that the murder of Abiquebel was related to his law-enforcement work.

Abiquebel survived an ambush also in Kidapawan City about two years ago.

Ajero said there is a possibility that the same gunmen were behind the murder of Abiquebel last Tuesday.