Pubdate: Wed, 06 Apr 2005
Source: Freeman, The (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 The Freeman
Contact:  http://www.thefreeman.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3437
Author: Ryan P. Borinaga
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

VIGILANTE KILLINGS: 44 VICTIMS LATER COPS ARE STILL IN THE DARK

The number of victims of so-called "vigilantes" has reached 44 in the
past three months and yet the police have nobody to point to the
killers or anything to jumpstart the investigation.

Of that number, 11 are believed to be drug-related and police
investigators are looking into the possibility of internal squabble
within the underworld as the motives.

Thus investigators said there is a possibility that only 33 killings
were perpetrated by the so-called vigilantes believed operating in the
city since December.

Homicide investigator Mario Monilar said they actually tried their
best to locate witnesses since the first killing but nobody is willing
to cooperate.

"Nobody showed willingness to cooperate with us on matters of
identifying the perpetrators. Information is very important in
criminal investigation because it answers who did it," Monilar said.

Only three cases have been filed in court, those on the murders of
Teofilo Zamora, Rogelio Pardillo and Dominador Villamor Jr. But these
could not be considered a breakthrough because two of these were due
to personal grudge traceable to drug rivalry and the other was of
mistaken identity.

The absence of solid development in the wave of killings prompted the
members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to seek for the
intervention of no less then President Gloria Arroyo.

Initial speculations fell on Mayor Tomas Osmena who, last December 21,
announced he was creating a hunter's team who would aggressively go
after criminals. A day later an ex-convict was gunned down at the pier
area.

But Osmena denied having anything to do with the killings although he
acknowledged he might have inspired them.

Most of those killed were former detainees of the Bagong Buhay
Rehabilitation Center, either as drug pushers or robbers, while others
were tagged as notorious criminals. 
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