Gunmen kill murder suspect in Kidapawan City

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 3, 2009) – Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday shot dead a murder suspect as extra-judicial killings continue in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province in Mindanao.

Police said the attackers killed Percy Bacus after being shot several times in the head and body. The gunmen fled on a motorcycle, police said.

Bacus was the 17th victim of gun attack in Kidapawan City. No group claimed responsibility for the latest killing, but locals suspect vigilantes were behind most of the murders.

Police said it is still investigating the killing. (Geonarri Solmerano)

Gunmen Kill Woman In Davao Attack

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 24, 2008) – Motorcycle gunmen killed a female caretaker of a boarding house in the southern Philippine city of Davao, police said Wednesday.

Police said Evelyn Lantion was shot at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday in front of her boarding house in Catalunan Pequeno village. The assailants escaped after the shooting, police said.

It was not immediately known whether the attack was carried out by anti-crime vigilantes or hired killers.

Unsolved killings in the city were largely blamed on the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) vigilantes who had murdered hundreds of mostly criminals or those with police records the past years.

Little was known about the shadowy group, but relatives and families of those who fell victims to the DDS accused authorities as behind the killings. (Romy Bwaga)

And The Killings Continue In Davao City...

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 02 Jul) – Two civilians were killed in separate attacks in the southern Philippine city of Davao, once tagged as one of the most peaceful place in the troubled region.

Police said a 25-year old man was knifed to death while playing cards with friends in downtown Davao City. It said two assailants were involved in the attack and fled on a motorcycle after the killing.

Two motorcycle men, also armed with knives, attacked another victim in downtown area, killing him instantly.

The assailants escaped after the attack. Previous killings in Davao City were blamed to the Davao Death Squad, an anti-crime vigilante group, which targeted criminals and those with police records.

But relatives of those killed have accused authorities as behind the spate of attacks and many of those who came forward to testify had been executed. Police and military have denied involvements in the extra-judicial killings.

A few hundred people had been killed in attacks in Davao City the past years and most of the cases remain unsolved up to this time. And the killings still continue. (Romy Bwaga)

Gunmen Barge In House, Kill Occupant In Southern RP

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 30 May) – A farmer was killed after four gunmen barged in his house in Davao City in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the attack occurred at around 5 a.m. Tuesday in the village of Pangyan in Calinan district in the city’s outskirts.

The man, Roselio Naypa, was shot in the head, police said.

“The victim was sleeping inside his house when the suspects knocked on the door of his house. When the victim opened the door, the suspects then shot him repeatedly with a .45-caliber pistol,” a police investigator said.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion fell on the so-called Davao Death Squad, a group of anti-crime vigilantes largely blamed on the spate of extra-judicial killings in the city.

Relatives and families of the gang’s victims have blamed the police and their private goons as behind the vigilante group. Carlito Perez, village chieftain, said Naypa had criminal records. (Romy Bwaga)

Vigilantes Strike, 3 Killed In South RP

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 25 May) – Suspected anti-crime vigilantes killed three men in separate attacks in the southern Philippines, human rights activists said Friday.

Motorcycle gunmen believed members of the dreaded Davao Death Squad shot dead a 30-year old man, Jessie Umpad, while walking on his way home on Thursday near Tibunco village in Davao City.

Police confirmed the murder and said the man was a known robber in the village. He was shot repeatedly in the head and body.

Unidentified men also killed Allan Navales, 18, inside his house also in Tibunco village.

A motorcycle taxi driver was abducted and killed by gunmen in Tagum City, police said.

It said Allan Estrella was seized on Wednesday by gunmen in the village of Pagsabangan. His bullet-riddled body was found the next day not far from where he had been abducted.

Other reports said Estrella was a suspected member of the New People’s Army. (Romy Bwaga)

Vigilantes Kill 2 In South RP

DAVAO DEL NORTE (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Mar) – Two people were killed in separate attacks by suspected members of a vigilante in the southern Philippines, police said Monday.

Police said the attacks occurred at the weekend in Tagum City.

The vigilantes, members of the shadowy group called Underground Death Squad, first killed Carlito Amatorio in the village of Mankilam. And eight hours later, they also shot dead Dominique Omela in the nearby village of Magugpo.

Amatoria was resting outside his house when two motorcycle gunmen shot him in the head. Omela was also shot in front of his house by gunmen, police said.

It was not immediately known whether the two killings were connected, but police blamed the vigilante group for the attacks. The group was also implicated in previous killings in Tagum.

Police said it is still investigating the motive for the attacks. (Romy Bwaga)

Vigilante Killings Sa Cebu Natigil Na?

CEBU (Mindanao Examiner / 27 Feb) – Matapos ng halos 200 kaso ng sunod-sunod na pamamaslang ng mga umano’y vigilantes sa Cebu sa loob ng 2 taon ay buong tapang naman na sinabi ng pulisya wala ng magaganap na summary killings.

Ito’y matapos na batikusin ng United Nations at Estados Unidos ang walang habas na pagpatay sa mga political activists at mga inosenteng sibilyan sa bansa.

Umabot na sa mahigit 800 ang mga aktibistang napapatay at hindi pa kabilang ditto ang mga diumano’y vigilante killings sa Cebu, Davao at Zamboanga.

Sa Cebu ay ibinibintang ng mga kaanak ng bitkima ng pamamaslang sa mga awtoridad ito. Ilang ulit naman rin itong itinanggi ng pulisya.

Ngunit kamakalawa lamang ay dalawang lalaki ang itinumba ng mga di-kilalang armado gamit ang .45-kalibre sa Cebu.

Sinigurado naman ni acting Cebu City police chief Patrocinio Comendador na wala ng vigilantes sa lungsod. Karamnihan sa mga pinapatay sa Cebu ay pawing may mga criminal records na karamihan ay mga magnanakaw. (Mindanao Examiner)