Actor mistaken for gunman, shot dead

LONDON - An actor starring in a British movie was shot dead while filming in the Philippines after being mistaken for a gunman by a watchman, it was reported here.

Kirk Abella, a 32-year-old Filipino actor, was playing the role of an armed masked man. He had a toy gun and was told by the director to speed away on the back of a motorbike when he was fatally shot. He died in hospital, Daily Express reported Tuesday.

British director Alan Lyddiard was shooting the movie “Going Somewhere” in Cebu city.

Watchman Eddie Cuizon thought the actor was a real gunman, police said.

Cuizon told police that he was asleep when he was woken up by a worried local who said there were armed men in the neighbourhood.

He went to investigate and spotted two masked men on a motorcycle. He approached them but they didn’t stop and instead sped away.

Cuizon shot the pillion rider after the latter pulled out a gun, which turned out to be made of plastic.

Alexis Relado, a police official, said that Cuizon will be charged with homicide and breaching a gun ban.