Slaughter of Innocents

AT GLANCE: On May 22, Nerito Calimbo, whom the police described as “leader of a notorious Chigo Gang”, was shot dead in a crowded street shortly after his release from police detention in Davao City. His wife and brother-in-law, who had fetched him, were also killed when gunmen riding on motorcycle open fired at a taxi they were riding. Only his 21-year-old son, Norman, who was also with them, survives from the attack. Three lives had been lost, but the police and local officials’ response thus far is to find answers why he should be killed; not much on who the perpetrators are? And, why his wife and brother-in-law also have to die…

An hour before Nerito was killed, one of the policeman detaining him, Jose Jorge Corpuz, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Southern Mindanao, had already warned him “to be careful” as he has been targeted for a kill. He did not elaborate; but when asked later why he had told Nerito as such, he claimed it was “only his presumption”.

“…a police officer had already warned him “to be careful” as he has been targeted for a kill. When asked later about his remarks after Nerito’s death, he said it was only his presumption”

The distance from where Nerito, his wife, Jocelyn and brother-in-law Aaron were attacked, in San Pedro Corner Legaspi Streets, from the police station where they had come from is about 200 meters. But reports said, the police had responded to the crime scene late for unknown reasons.

And, even before the police completes their investigation, they already concluded it could have been Nerito’s colleagues in Chigo Gang who had killed him. While the policemen have taken a lot of trouble explaining to the public impliedly justifying why Nerito has to die, obviously for his supposed involvement in criminal activities; but never did they had given any explanation why his wife and brother in law have also have to die.

No rational explanation were also made as to why Nerito’s 21-year-old son, Norman, have to loss both of his parents before his eyes. Can Norman by now should be trusting the policemen, who had told his father “to be careful” shortly before he was killed and had prejudge him already of his criminal activities impliedly justifying his death, would have trust them in pursuing those responsible for his parents and uncle’s murders? Only him knows.

Nerito’s colleague, Bernardo Chigo (a.k.a. Jun Muslim), whom the police said he was aiding, had likewise been killed while in police custody. Bernardo, according to the police’ version, had attempted to grab a gun from his police escort on May 22 of this year, thus he was killed. Was the police’ claims true or not, no one knows? No further investigation have taken place into Bernardo’s death though—what the police has said there, that was it.

After Bernardo’s death, the police claim, Nerito had taken in charge of the Chigo Gang, whom the police also claimed responsible in several robbery cases in southern Mindanao. That also included in the nearby city of Digos, a place where local mayor Arsenio Latasa had already openly said, that those robbers and thieves “we could no longer take this as a joke. It means that if we need to kill them (criminals), kill them”.

“…a local mayor (Digos City) had already openly said, that those robbers and thieves “are useless, if we need to kill them (crime suspects), kill them”

Despite these killings of alleged crime suspects, including minors, that has continuously been taking place since early 1998s in Davao City and nearby cities that goes unabated up until now, the Davao City’s vice mayor, Sara Duterte, whose father had long before openly dislikes person involved in crimes said of the city, “the city is still safe despite the spate of killings”.

“Davao City vice mayor, Sara Duterte, whose father had long before openly dislikes person involved in crimes said of the city, “the city is still safe despite the spate of killings”.

Who is safe and from whom?