Extra-Judicial Killings Continue In Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 4, 2008) – Two men were killed in separate attacks in the southern Philippine city of Davao, where extra-judicial killings continue unabated.

A man, armed with a knife, attacked a pedicab driver, Danny Campos late Tuesday and a suspected mugger, Richard Baidinovar, was also shot dead by unidentified assailants near Sasa village.

Three people were also shot dead in separate attacks Monday in Davao City.

A lone gunman killed two people, Melvin Capuyan and Jonard Cadacar, inside a house in Mintal village.Capuyan’s brother, Karlo, was also injured in the shooting. and is being guarded by relatives at a hospital in Davao City.

Police said the gunman barged in Capuyan’s house and shot the victims without warning while they were watching television.

Police implicated Capuyan in criminalities in Davao City.

Another gunman also shot dead Felipe Rebocas, a farmer, the same night near a government rice outlet in the village of Upper Malagamot in Davao City’s Panacan district.

Police said the attacker shot the man at close range and then fled on a motorcycle after the killing.

The motives for both attacks were unknown, but extra-judicial killings are rampant in Davao City with victims mostly with criminal records. Police said most of the extra-judicial killings here were perpetrated by warring gang members.

But victims' relatives blamed the police for the murder, an accusation strongly denied by the authorities. (Romy Bwaga)

Revenue Officer Killed In Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines (Mindanao / May 11, 2008) – Police launched a manhunt for a gunman who killed a senior government revenue officer in a daring broad daylight attack in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province.

Officials said policemen were hunting down the suspect in the murder of Lolita Molina, who was shot Friday in downtown Pagadian. The 54-year old executive of the Bureau of Internal Revenue was gunned as she disembarked from a motorcycle taxi.

The gunman fled after the killing. The motive of the killing is still unknown, but the woman’s family claimed she was receiving death threats before the attack. It was unclear whether the murder was connected to her work or not.

Hired killers operate in Pagadian City and there had been dozens of unsolved killings the past years. Pagadian is home to many regional government agencies after Manila ordered their transfer several years from Zamboanga City in the tip of western Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)

Grenade Blast Injures Boy In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 06, 2008) – A grenade attack in the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga wounded a boy and the rising criminalities here are worrying traders and government officials.

The blast occurred in the village of Ayala and police is investigating the motive of the attack late Monday afternoon. A spate of gun attacks and extra-judicial killings since last month have worried officials.

On Monday, an unidentified motorcycle gunman shot a shipping employee in the head as his vehicle slowed down on a stop light near downtown Zamboanga.

A lawyer was also shot in the head inside a church during a mass, sending worshipers scampering for safety. Just last week, a university professor was also gunned down by unidentified assailants near him house and previous killings remain unsolved.

And all these killings occurred despite a total gun ban in Zamboanga City, but many hired killers also operate here and this is aggravated by threats of terrorism and kidnappings.

Last month, two homemade bombs were detonated at a Catholic cathedral and a commercial building here. Police blamed the Abu Sayyaf group and the separatist rebel, Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The United States, Canada, Australia and Britain had previously warned their citizens not to travel to Zamboanga and other parts of Mindanao because of threats of terrorism.

Mayor Celso Lobregat has assured the public that Zamboanga City is safe and police said the killings were “isolated cases” and mostly triggered by feud. (Mindanao Examiner)

Death Stalks Criminals In Davao City

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 13 Jul) – Death is coming and it came too fast for a father who was mercilessly killed in front of his son in the southern Filipino port city of Davao.

The victim, Rosito Campus, 43, was stabbed dead late Friday afternoon by unidentified men on motorcycle.

Just like the others, the latest victim had a shadowy past – he was implicated in a series of robbery and had posted bail after being arrested by the police.

Campus was with his four-year old son when three men attacked him on a busy area near downtown Davao. The boy was not harmed.

Police was quick to blame the vigilante group Davao Death Squad as behind the attack. From guns, the vigilante group now uses knives to kill their prey – it is silent and swift.

Campus was one of many suspected criminals and thieves murdered in Davao City the past months. Hundreds have been executed over the years and relatives blamed authorities for the attacks. (Romy Bwaga)

Gunmen Kill 2 In South RP

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 29 May) – Gunmen shot dead two people in separate attacks in the troubled region of the southern Philippines, police said Tuesday.

Police said armed men barged in a house in the village of Magsaysay in Compostela Valley’s New Bataan town and killed Gloria Magalon.

The 54-year old woman was preparing breakfast fro her family when the gunmen shot her in the head. The woman, police said, died instantly in the weekend attack.

Gunmen also shot dead the 15-year old Randy Bilinario inside his house in the village Cogon in Kiblawan town in Davao del Sur province.

Provincial police said the victim was just resting inside the house when the suspects barged inside and shot him with a 12-gauge shotgun.

The motives of both attacks are still unknown, police said. Just last week, a motorcycle gunman also shot dead a young woman, Venus Maquiran, in a broad daylight attack in Panabo City in Davao del Norte province.

Police said the woman was heading for work on her motorcycle when the gunman drive by her side and shot her in the head.

Extra-judicial killing is common in the dangerous region of the southern Philippines, where murder can be contracted for as low as one hundred dollars. (Romy Bwaga)