Gunman kills labor leader, wounds 2 in Cavite

A labor leader was shot dead while two others were wounded in an ambush near a Japanese firm's office in Imus town in Cavite province early Monday morning. The fatality was identified as Jose "Boots" Servida, a worker-leader of the EMI-Yasaki factory in Imus, separate radio reports gathered by GMANews.TV showed. Also wounded in the incident was Joel Sales, who was bringing food to the factory canteen. He sustained four gunshot wounds to his body and was rushed to a hospital, the reports showed. Marlene Gonzales, chairwoman of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers, said in Filipino during an interview on dzRH radio that, "They were bringing food to the company canteen when they were shot. This shows the increasing repression of workers' rights in Cavite." Gonzales said the two had just alighted from an owner-type jeep when an unidentified gunman shot them. Servida was killed instantly. She said an apprentice, who was not immediately identified, sustained a gunshot wound to the head during the attack. "The gunman waited for them near the canteen," she said. Meanwhile, radio station dzBB, quoting information from Bayan-Southern Tagalog secretary general Armand Albarillo, said the attack took place at about 6 a.m. in front of the factory's Gate 2. Gonzales said Servida was murdered just after militant workers won the local election for union officers at the EMI Yasaki factory in Imus town. Last December 1, human rights group Karapatan said 185 extrajudicial killings have been recorded so far in 2006, which they said was on track to be the most murderous under the Arroyo administration. Karapatan then said 797 people have died since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed office in January 2001. Gonzales said the attack on Servida was the second attack on Cavite workers since April, when gunmen ambushed and seriously wounded labor leader Gerardo Cristobal April 28. Local militant labor leaders claimed the armed men in the ambush were operatives of police intelligence in Imus. At the time, Cristobal and his companion was riding on a car passing a crowded street in Anabu village, Coastal in Imus when another car with three armed men wearing bonnets blocked their way. The suspected gunman, later identified as Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Romeo Lara, got off and approached Cristobal and his companion and began shooting at him at close range. Cristobal exchanged fire with Lara and his companion, Civilian Security Unit member Larry Reyes. Lara was also hit in the head and shoulder while Cristobal was wounded in his stomach, hip and hand. Cristobal had been carrying a licensed firearm due to the persistent threats to his life from the police and private armies of Cavite Governor Ireneo Maliksi.-GMANews.TV