MANILA,Philippines — A senior labor officer of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men in Malate, Manila yesterday.

Helen Dacanay, senior officer of DOLE-National Capital Region, was shot while she was in her dark gray Honda vehicle along Malvar street in Malate at past 5 p.m.

In a radio interview, Ermita police station chief Lt. Col. Ariel Caramoan said Dacanay and her companion, labor arbiter Agatha Daquitan, were on their way home from their office when the suspects fired at them. Daquitan was not injured in the incident.

Police were still investigating the motive for the killing.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III condemned Dacanay’s slaying.

“I condemn in the strongest terms the dastardly killing of labor officer Ellen Dacanay assigned at the Manila field office of the Department of Labor and Employment,” Bello said in statement.

“It is disturbing that a civilian official was murdered in a cowardly manner akin to executions by hired men,” he said.

“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,” he added.

The labor chief appealed to law enforcement agencies to arrest the assailants at the soonest time.

Bello expressed doubts that the killing is related to any labor dispute being handled by the victim. – With Sheila Crisostomo