Children among Philippines gun massacre dead
Monday, 19 May 2008 09:28
Five children among eight people killed by lone gunman in Philippines
Five children are among eight people killed by a lone gunman in the Philippines, police said late on Sunday.
A further six people were injured in the shooting, which detectives blamed on a farm worker with a grudge against locals.
The suspect, named as Adan Defiesta, remains at large, but the farm's owner, a retired police officer, has been arrested after his M-16 rifle and ammunition were stolen.
Local media reported that the gunman went from house to house in Calamba, south of the capital Manila, and opened fire indiscriminately.
Police chief Ricardo Padilla told reporters the suspect was believed to have been under the influence of drugs.
On Friday the northern Laguna province was the location of another gun massacre when bank robbers shot ten people in the town of Cabuyao.
No one has been arrested in connection with the shootings, despite the offer of a two million peso (£23,884) reward.