Pubdate: Tue, 11 Jan 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Author: ASA/JGD

KILLINGS ON THE RISE

Since the start of the year, killing incidents perpetrated by still 
unidentified armed men aboard motorcycles have risen to alarming 
proportions with 16 persons killed within 10 days.

At 8 pm last night, Eboy Ortega, a laborer, was killed in Ulas, fronting 
the Coca-Cola Bottlers plant by motorcycle-riding men. Ortega was hit on 
the head.

At 2:45 pm yesterday,  Diana Toronan, 41, a fish and fruit vendor, and a 
resident of Quezon Boulevard, Barangay 31-D, was shot dead.

Toronan, who left behind 14 children, was walking along Roxas Avenue when 
one of three men on board a motorcycle shot her thrice on the head. She 
died on the spot.

Her body was immediately claimed from the crime scene by her relatives.

Responding personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operation recovered three 
empty shells and two deformed slugs of .45 caliber pistol from the crime scene.

According to reports reaching the Sta. Ana police station, the victim was 
allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

Just 15 minutes before the incident, a former member of the defunct 
Philippine Constabulary (PC) was also shot dead in Diversion Road, San 
Nicolas, Buhangin district.

Reynaldo Adolfo Villahermosa, 39, of La Verna Hills Subdivision, was buying 
kerosene from a nearby store  when he was gunned down by two suspects 
aboard a motorcycle.

Villahermosa succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on the head and body.

Recovered from the crime scene were eight empty shells of .45 caliber pistol.

It was learned that he was once shot sometime last year in Panabo City but 
survived.

On Sunday, a 35-year-old 'last two' bet collector was gunned down by one of 
the three motorcycle-riding suspects at around 4:55 p.m. while he was 
sitting on a wooden bench outside Sare Store at San Roque Street, Barangay 
San Antonio, Agdao district, this city.

Dante Galarce, a resident of Agdao, sustained three gunshot wounds on the 
head and another one in the breast and was rushed to the Davao Medical 
Center where he was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Recovered from the crime scene were four spent shells and two deformed 
slugs of .45 caliber pistol.

At around 10 p.m., a jobless man was also shot dead at the underpass in 
Bankerohan public market, Barangay 5-A.

Reports reaching the San Pedro police station identified the victim as 
Intong Gonzales alias Pasmo, 27, of Barayko, Barangay 7-A.

Gonzales was walking alone when the assailant appeared from behind and shot 
him once on the head at close range.

He died on the spot.

The suspect fled on board a waiting getaway motorcycle towards unknown 
direction.

Earlier on that day, a newspaper dealer was also slain by motorcycle-riding 
suspects just a few meters away from where Gonzales was also killed.

Raquelito Toroba, 37, was attending his wares at around 5 a.m. when the 
gunman approached him and shot him several times, resulting to his instant 
death.

Last year, 98 were killed while 90 were slain in 2003. There has been no 
conviction on these killings.
- ---