Slaughter of Innocents

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AT GLANCE: In span of three days, six persons have been killed, including a 16-year-old boy, in separate shooting incidents on pretense of “vigilante killings” in the cities of General Santos and Davao. One of the victims was reported to have been killed by mistake; but the rest were described by the police investigating these murders as having criminal records, involved in petty theft, robbery and illegal drugs.

Case No. 1: Murder could have been by mistaken identity

Victim: Bryan Masiga, 26, resident of Samuel Street, Emily Homes Subdivision, Cabantian, Davao City
Date: 15 June at 10am

Two still unidentified suspects shot a basketball player to death in broad daylight in Emily Homes Subdivision, Cabantian, Buhangin, Davao City on June 15.

The victim, Bryan Masiga, 26, was on his way to a store a few meters away from his house to buy a laundry soap when two unidentified men appeared beside him and shot him in the different parts of his body.

Witnesses said the suspects fled on foot after the incident.

The responding police investigators declared Masiga dead upon their arrival. They recovered four empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol at the scene of crime. Masiga succumbed to four gunshot wounds in his body.

Masiga’s family is clueless of the motive of the killing. Even their neighbors claimed Masiga could have been mistaken as somebody by the suspects. One of them even said that Masiga is a good man and that the latter has no vice and has no enemy in their place.

Masiga is supposed to marry his girlfriend this year.

Investigators of the Buhangin police precinct recently said they are still conducting investigation of the incident and added that they have difficulty in finding witnesses who can make descriptions of the two suspects.

Case No. 2: Witness saw gunmen on motorcycle shot victim dead

Victim: Demas Mindo, of legal age, resident of Purok Saway, Zone 3, Barangay (village) Labangal, General Santos City
Date: 15 June at 10:30am

Suspected vigilantes strike again in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City killing a man in Purok Saway, Zone 3.

Vigilante-style killings in the same barangay have been reportedly stopped for a week until on June 15 when Demas Mindo was sitting outside his house and two motorcycle-riding gunmen appeared and shot him.

The suspects fled on board their motorcycle to unknown direction, while Mindo, who was hit on his chest and head, was brought by his neighbors to the St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Mindo died three hours after the incident while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Meanwhile, police recovered two empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene. They are conducting further investigation now that there is a witness of the incident.

Case No. 3: Boy shot dead for stealing steels

Victim: Alias JR, 16, resident of Barpa, Agdao, Davao City
Date: 16 June at 3:40pm

On June 16, a 16-year-old boy died after he was stabbed by an unidentified man along R.Castillo Street in Agdao, Davao City.

The victim, identified by the police as alias JR, was playing “taksi (a form of gamble that uses coins)” with three other minors in Ara Asuncion, R. Castillo Street, Agdao, when an unidentified man armed with a knife approached him and stabbed him several times.

According to the witnesses, the suspect has two companions, one was standing a few meters from the crime scene who served as a lookout, while the other was onboard a motorcycle which the suspect boarded after the incident.

Investigators of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) declared the victim dead on the spot with nine fatal stabbed wounds.

It was learned that the victim was identified as one of the “Bakal Boys” in Agdao.

“Tigkatkat ni sila’g mga sakyanan tapos nagapanguha og mga bakal aron ibaligya (They steal steels from vehicles after scaling to sell),” police said.

Police added they are conducting investigations to know the suspects and the motive of the incident.

Case No. 4: Gunmen kills two, wounds another involve in drugs

Victims:
1. Roland Japitana, 23,
2. unidentified, both residents of Silway, General Santos City.
Wounded:
Edison Nuevo, 20, resident of Barangay Apopong, General Santos City.
Date: 16 June at 1:15 p.m.

On June 16, Edison Nuevo, Roland Japitana, and their unidentified companion were on their way home along Silway Street after attending a birthday party.

While waiting for a ride, two unidentified men onboard a motorcycle appeared and without provocation shot them.

Japitana and his unidentified companion died on the spot after they were hit with bullets on their face and head, respectively, while Nuevo, who was hit at the back portion of his body and in his stomach, sought help from the concerned citizens. Nuevo was brought to the hospital.

The suspects, witnesses said, fled on board their motorcycle to unknown direction.

The responding police investigators recovered empty shells of a caliber .45 pistol and a .38 revolver from the scene of incident.

They suspect that the victims were involved in illegal drugs and that the motive of the killing is drug-related. However, they did not confirm this until now. They are conducting follow-up investigation to establish the real motive of the incident.

Case No. 5: Man facing robbery case shot dead in front of partner

Victim: Aldren Alba, 22, resident of Purok Intik, Barangya Mabuhay, General Santos City
Date: 17 June at 8:30am

On June 17, a man, who served time in jail for robbery, was shot to death in front of his live-in partner in Purok Intik, Barangay Mabuhay, General Santos City.

Victim Aldren Alba was sipping coffee sitting on a bench with his live-in partner outside their house when two unidentified men approached him and shot him without provocation.

Irene Salazar, Alba’s live-in partner, said Alba, though hit with a bullet, still managed to run towards their house, but the suspects followed him and jointly shot him.

Alba was hit on his head and chest causing his instantaneous death.

Alba’s father, Andriano, told responding policemen that his son even begged the suspects for his life, but the latter still shot his son to death.

Andriano claimed that his son has served time in jail for robbery, but was released from prison after he posted a bail. He added that his son was ready to reform as he would be marrying his live-in partner this year.

Andriano further said that with the continuous unsolved killings in the city, he already lost trust in the police and that he will just ready himself that his son’s case would not be solved.

Five empty shells of caliber .45 pistol were recovered by the responding policemen at the crime scene.

Source: Sun.Star Super Balita