A farmers group leader was shot dead after attending an anti-Charter change rally in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province, Wednesday.

Fermin Loreco, 52, was shot dead while on his way home to San Jose extension in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province. He died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Loreco, chairman of peasant group Kaugmaon-Kulusan Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Negros Oriental, had just attended a protest action against the Charter reform efforts of the administration when the ambush took place.

Loreco was even interviewed by an ABS-CBN News team during the rally, where he expressed his strong opposition to House Resolution 1109, which calls for a constituent assembly to tackle amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

The peasant leader told the ABS-CBN News team that the country would be in more difficult times if Charter change pushes through.

Members of the peasant group believes Loreco's assailants were members of the military.

“May tatlong tao na kumukuha ng picture namin, intelligence [agents] ‘ata. Baka isa sa kanila ang bumaril,” said Roche Ragay.

Loreco is the fifth peasant leader to have been killed in 2009. With a report from DX Lapid, ABS-CBN Central Visayas