An official of the Bureau of Customs was killed while his bodyguard was wounded in an ambush in Sampaloc district, Manila Thursday evening.

Deputy Customs Commissioner Arturo Lachica, 58, was inside his Toyota Altis vehicle which was traveling along Espana Boulevard when he was shot at 6:50 pm.

He was headed home to Caloocan City from work in Manila.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, in a statement, said he has directed the intelligence and enforcement units to provide full support to investigating agencies.

Superintendent Aquino Olivar, Sampaloc police station commander, said a gunman approached the vehicle from the back and shot Lachica, who was seated on the front right passenger seat, several times using a firearm of unknown caliber.

Lachica's driver and close-in security, Romulo De Lima, sustained a grazed wound on the back. His other bodyguard, who was seated at the back, was unscathed.

The duo brought the customs official to United Doctors Medical Center. Physicians pronounced him dead at 7:45 pm. Lachica's bodyguards identified him to the police.

De Lima said he saw the gunman running away but could not say if the suspect rode a vehicle.

De Lima said he is not aware if his boss had enemies. Four fired cartridge cases and one live ammunition were recovered from the crime scene. Emmanuel Tupas/DMS