Police said they are looking into the nature of work as possible motive behind the ambush-slaying of a senior labor officer in Paco, Manila, on Monday afternoon.
“As of now, ang nakikita pa lang namin na motibo is due to the nature of her work. We are still looking kung may mabigat ba siyang cases na hinahawakan ngayon,” Capt. Henry Navarro, chief of the Manila Police District homicide section said.
“According to his family and friends, she had no known enemy,” he added.
Last Monday, Helen Dacanay, 59, senior officer of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), along with a labor arbiter, had just left the office onboard a dark gray Honda vehicle at about 4:45 p.m. when two unidentified gunmen fired at them along Malvar Street corner Singalong Street, Paco.
Dacanay was rushed to Ospital ng Maynila but was declared dead on arrival due to gunshot wounds in the chest and shoulder.
Her companion, Atty. Agatha Daquigan, sustained minor injuries after the windshield of the car was riddled with bullets, Navarro said.
Police the two gunmen were onboard a blue motorcycle and gray Suzuki shogun with unknown plate number. They fled towards the southbound of Singalong Street.
Recovered from the crime scene were fired catridges of unknown caliber.
A follow-up operation is ongoing for the identification and arrest of the gunmen.
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello condemned the killing of Dacanay.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the dastardly killing of labor officer Ellen Dacanay assigned at the Manila field office of the Department. It is disturbing that a civilian official was murdered in a cowardly manner akin to executions by hired guns,” Bello said in a statement.
He also appealed to police to “act immediately to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime. “
The labor secretary also vowed to extend assistance to Dacanay’s family.
“I join the officialdom of the Labor department in condoling with her family on their tragic loss. We will extend all necessary assistance to the family to serve the ends of justice,” Bello said. (Erma Edera)
