Marine killed in duel with cop in Zamboanga club

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 15, 2010) – A member of the Philippine Marines was killed and a policeman seriously wounded after the two engaged in a duel before dawn Thursday in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

The policeman had responded to emergency calls that the soldier, Rex Pamittan, was creating trouble inside a night club in the village of Putik.

The soldier was briefly pacified, but later engaged the officer in a heated argument. The soldier then pulled out a pistol tucked in his pants and shot the policeman who managed to return fire.

“It was the Marine who first drew his gun,” a police investigator said.

The soldier was already dead when police forces arrived in the club. They rushed the wounded officer to the hospital. The investigator said they recovered at least a dozen empty shells fired from pistols.

It was unknown how the soldier, clad in a pair of denim pants and shirt, was able to sneak his weapon inside the club which is strictly illegal. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine Human Rights Body Investigates Killing Of Innocent Civilians

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 8, 2008) – The Philippines Commission on Human Rights has began an investigation into the bloody shootout between policemen and members of a criminal gang that left 16 people dead, including innocent civilians caught in the cross-fire.

Commissioner Lilia de Lima said there is an investigation going and that they have asked the police to provide them detailed reports of what transpired that led to the firefight.

The weekend clash killed five civilians, including a father and his seven-year old daughter. The rest were alleged members of gang blamed for the spate of bank robberies in the metropolis.

Witnesses said members of the Police Special Action Force opened fire on a car Alfonso de Vera, 53, and his daughter, Alyanna, was driving inside the United Parañaque Subdivision 4.

Police said it is also investigating the shootout.

The Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns and its member-organizations led by the Children’s Rehabilitation Center expressed outrage over the killings.

“We extend our condolences with Alyanna’s mother and join her in her call for justice for the death of her loved ones,” said Alphonse Rivera, spokesperson of Salinlahi.

Rivera said the news of the killings of innocent civilians was particularly distressing especially since the human rights community will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights on December 10.

“It is indeed alarming to note that our children are not safe from human rights violations. Whether they are in the countryside’s or in the cities, State forces should always keep in mind the respect for human life, especially children,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Cop In Trouble Over Shooting Incident In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 12, 2008) – A police officer is being investigated after he shot a woman during a drinking session with friends in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

The woman was shot in the face while the policeman, Abdulhan Indanan, was toying with his pistol on Thursday. The woman, Elizabeth Bacunawa, 27, was rushed to hospital after the shooting.

Policemen who responded to the scene arrested Indanan and seized his gun. Police said the shooting occurred while Indanan was having a drinking spree with friends at a store near a police camp. (Erico Rosco)

Violence Claims Another Victim In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 5, 2008) – Motorcycle gunmen shot a car owner late Friday in a daring attack at a supermarket parking area in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, reports said.

The wounded victim was rushed to hospital after being shot while inside a car shortly before 8 p.m. at the parking area of the LB Supermarket, a local radio network dxRZ reported.

The identity of the victim was not immediately known, but other radio reports identified him as Henry Lim Chu. It was the second gun attack Friday in Zamboanga City.

Earlier in the day, unidentified gunmen also shot and killed Arnold Pimentel, the administrator of the regional TESDA training center here. Pimentel was shot in the head at around 7.45 a.m. The assailant escaped on motorcycle after the shooting.

TESDA is an agency under the Department of Education responsible for managing and supervising technical education and skills development in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

Nephew Of Philippine Official Arrested Over Shooting Incident

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 14, 2008) – Police arrested on Thursday a nephew of the Philippine government spokesman who was accused of shooting a teenager in Davao City.

Police said John Paul Dureza was apparently drunk when he fired his pistol in the air and hitting Raymond Gavino. The incident occurred at around 3 a.m. in downtown Davao. The man claimed to be the nephew of President Gloria Arroyo’s spokesman and Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.

Dureza confirmed the man is his relative, but said he would not meddle in the police investigation. Police did not say whether the man had a permit to carry the gun, but investigators claimed he tried to flee after the shooting.

Meanwhile, one of the victims of a bus bombing in Digos City died in hospital on Wednesday from shrapnel injuries. Magda Parantar, 52, was the second victim to die from the July 24 bombing blamed by authorities to terrorism. (Romy Bwaga)