Gun-For-Hire Killed In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 23, 2008) – A man implicated in a string of murder was shot dead at a military checkpoint after he tried to attack soldiers who tried to arrest him in the southern Philippines.

Romeo Bernardo, 35, who had been long wanted by authorities for his involvement in contract killings in the provinces, was himself killed after he tried to shoot the soldiers late Wednesday in Tambulig town in Zamboanga del Sur province.

Bernardo was driving his motorcycle when soldiers stopped him at the checkpoint after he had been positively identified as a wanted man. But instead of surrendering, Bernardo pulled his .45-caliber pistol and tried to shoot the infantrymen. One soldier was quick to draw his gun and shot Bernardo.

Police said Bernardo was a known gun-for-hire in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.

Meanwhile, an unidentified gunman also killed a store owner on Wednesday night inside his own house in Zamboanga City, police said.

Police said Joel Genturales, 45, was shot several times in the village of Baluno. The assailant fled after the shooting. It was unknown whether Genturales was alone in the house or not, but the gunman, police said, barged inside and shot the victim. (Erico Rosco)

Man Killed, 5 Others Injured In Zamboanga Farm House Burglary

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 11, 2008) – Police killed a man in a firefight Saturday after he and three others broke into a farm house in Zamboanga City in Mindanao, officials said.

Officials said the gunmen barged in the house in Baluno village and shot and injured one of the house occupants, Helen Rebelleza after she screamed for help. Her 12-year old daughter was also injured by a stray bullet.

Police captured all three gunmen who were wounded in the fighting. The farm house is owned by Sulu Mayor Hussin Amin.

Chief Insp. Hado Edding, of the local police force, identified the slain burglar as Arnon Hermegildo. Those arrested were Joe Lie Evangelio and a man known only by his first name, Badie.

The woman’s husband, Eric Rebelleza, said the armed men broke into the farm house at around 1 p.m.

Edding said the men were involved in previous robberies and had been implicated in the murder of a motorcycle driver and carnappings in Zamboanga. (Erico Rosco)