Slaughter of Innocents

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AT GLANCE: From May 28 to June 3, a local newspaper, Sun.Star, reported eight deaths of persons, two of whom were minors, on pretexts of “vigilante killings” and “gang war” respectively from the cities of General Santos, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, all in Mindanao. The victims, who were murdered by shooting and stabbing, were killed in public and crowded places, outside and inside their own houses and even in front of their families and relatives. This article are brief details of the victim’s individual cases.

Shot in front of his friend

Victim: Rezemias Bensolano, 17 years old; a resident of Lower Puting Bato, Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City
Date: 3 June 2008 at 9pm

Rezemias Bensolano sits outside their house together with a friend after dinner. While there, two unidentified men, armed with bladed weapons, suddenly appeared repeatedly stabbing Rezemias as they caught with him on the chest.

The attackers, too, had attempted to stab Rezemias’ friend, whose name was withheld, but the latter had been able to immediately ran away from them.

Rezemias had just finished his dinner and was spending sometime with his friend when they were attacked. He suffered fatal stabbed wounds to his chest and his back. The attacker, after making sure that he is already dead, escaped on their motorcycle.

Rezemias’s neighbor have tried rescuing him by taking him to a hospital; however, he already died on his way.

Gunmen shot a “trouble maker, gang member” dead

Victim: Richard Arroyo Baldelobar; 22 years old; a resident of Sardonex street, Doña Salud Village, Davao City
Date: 3 June 2008 at 9:10pm

Richard Baldelobar was with three of his friends standing by along a street in their village when unidentified gunmen, who were riding on a motorcycle, suddenly approached him. One of whom shot him on the head at close range. The victim’s friends, who were caught surprised and shocked by the shooting, scampered for safety.

Shortly after his death, the police investigating the case, Senior Police Officer (SPO1) Demetrio Palomar of Sasa Police Station, had described the victim as “known troublemaker” in their village and that he had been involved in theft cases in their area”. The police, too, claim the victim had previous criminal records for theft and beating; and had been part of a “6425 Gang”.

The attacker was described as about 30 years old, 5’4 tall and was wearing white sando. He was seen escaping with another person, who had waited for him close by, on their getaway motorcycle.

The victim’s relatives, who were shocked upon learning that their cousin had been shot dead, have not been able to identify who could be responsible in murdering him. The victim’s dead body was later taken to the funeral parlor in Panacan, also in the same city.

Shot in front of his parents, siblings

Victim: Felipe Rebucas, 30 years old, laborer, of Purok 15, Indangan, Buhangin, Davao City
Date: 3 June 2008 at 4am

Felipe Rebucas was queuing up at a retail store to buy rice when shot dead by one of the two unidentified armed riding on a motorcycle. The incident took place at the Upper Malagamot, Panacan, the same city.

Felipe, who was lining up a kilo of cheaper rice from a government retail store, was with his parents and siblings, when attacked. Apart from his family, several other witnesses were also present there during the shooting. The members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) had recovered three empty slugs from a caliber .45 pistol.

The attacker was described as in his 30s, 5’4″ in height, with short hair, had medium body built, wearing short pants and jacket. He was seen escaping on board a black Honda XRM, which was driven by his companion, who was waiting for him on their way to escape.

The police, in conducting their investigation, are instead looking in to the victim’s background, presumably of whether he has had criminal records, rather than to identify those who were responsible in killing him.

Gunmen shot two person, injures a boy

Victim killed:
1. Junard Calacar, 19 years old
2. Melvin Capuyan, 38
Wounded:
1. Junard’s cousin, John Carlo Calacar, 14
All the victims were residents of Purok 4, Sitio Basak, Mintal, Davao city
Date: 2 June 2008 at 7:30pm

The two victims, Junard Calacar and Melvin Capuyan, were watching a television show when they were shot dead by gunmen in Mintal, Tugbok District, the same city. Junard’s 14-year-old cousin, John Carlo Calacar, who also injured as he was present during the attack.

While the two victims died on their way when taken to the hospital, John Carlo had been able to survived from the attack. He was first taken to the Holy Spirit Medical Hospital in Mintal but was later transferred to Davao Medical Center.

According to police’s initial investigations, Police Office (PO3) Edgar Genovia of the Tugbok police station has claimed that there were four unidentified men who started shooting at the said victims immediately arriving at the same place. The police were able to recover from the crime scene 10 empty slugs from a caliber .45 pistol.

Though it was Melvin who was first shot, but the police believe Junard could have been the gunmen’s real target. Junard’s mother, Rosie Calacar, had also admitted that his son could have been the real target by the gunmen since he has since been received several death threats prior to the attack. She also also admitted that her son was a gang member.

Gang member killed

Victim: Michael Castino, single, a resident of Zone 5, Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City. He was said to be a gang member of Batang Mindanao 29
Date: 30 May 2008

Michael Castino was shot dead by two men, who were riding on a motorcycle, at the corner of Osmeña and Yacapin streets in the same city. The attackers, who were wearing helmets and jackets, shot him at the left side of his head killing him instantly. Two empty slugs from a .45 caliber pistol had been recovered from the crime scene.

The place where the victim had been attacked was the place where many people during this hour were then eating their breakfast. Shortly after his death, Castino had been described as a member of the Batang Mindanao 29 gang member; and had been involved in numerous robbery and pickpocket cases in the past.

Former detainee beginning new life stabbed dead

Victim: Jerry Nasiad, a laborer at the public market; of 39.2 FVR Village, Barangay Fatima, General Santos City
Date: 29 May 2008 at 5pm

Jerry Nasiad, a former detainee, had been repeatedly stabbed to death by two unidentified person, as he was standing by at the public market. The attackers had immediately escaped after the incident. The victim was immediately taken to a hospital but he died on his way. He had suffered at least 18 stabbed wounds.

According to his cousin, Maryjane Villanuve, 45, they have not been able to identify who had killed her cousin. They though admitted the victim had been previously detained for murder at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, but the he was released when the case filed at him had been dismissed.

The victim, following his release from jail, had already started a new life. He had already been helping others at the public market should they asked for his help. It is reported though that the police have already had with them in custody a witness in the killing.

Gunmen kills a boy, wounds another

Victim killed:
1. Julius Canteros, alyas Odoy, 17 years old
Wounded:
1. John Philip, alyas Jepoy. 15 years old He was taken to a government hospital where he was treated. The two victims were both residents of Phase 6, Dona Asuncion village, Bo. Pampanga, Davao City
Date: 28 May 2008 at 9pm

Julius Canteros was killed while his companion John Philip was wounded when they were shot by one of the two unidentified gunmen riding on a motorcycle. The two victims were reported to be members of a group Chowking Boys.

The two victims, who were at the time with four other companions, three of whom were girls, were drinking at a videoke bar in Kilometer 11, Sasa, when they were attacked. While there, two unidentified men riding on a motorcycle had arrive. One of them had come inside the videoke bar while the other one was waiting outside. It is the one who came inside who started shooting the victims.

John, who had survived the attack, was said to have been first shot by the attacker. He suffered gunshot wounds to his chest. Julius, who had covered himself under a table during the shooting, died after suffering from a fatal gunshot wound when he himself shot. Julius died on his way to the hospital. After the shooting the attackers had escaped on board their getaway motorcycle.

The gunman was described as about 40 years old, 5’5″ tall, his head was shaved and he was wearing short pants and a white shirt. Four empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol had been recovered from the crime scene.

The police, however, since they had been able to recover some illegal drugs from the victims’ possessing, had already concluded that their death had something to do with gang war as they themselves had been involved in a riot previously.