Pubdate: Thu, 13 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

SUMMARY EXECUTIONS TOLL: 20

AN ALLEGED drug pusher was killed yesterday morning in Matina Aplaya here, 
while another victim died after he and two others were shot Tuesday night 
in Maa.

This brought the death toll attributed to summary execution during the 
first 12 days of the year to 20.

Shot dead in Matina Aplaya was Cesarlito Tagud, 26, single, a resident of 
San Nicolas, Dumalag I, Matina Aplaya. The other dead person was Generoso 
Amarillo Jr., 19 of Purok 13-A, Bugac, Ma-a; Sunrex Denn Almendras, 16 of 
Dacoville, Dumoy, Toril; and Jeffrey Bultron, 18, also a resident of Purok 
13-A, Bugac, Maa.

Tagud was working in a construction of a house infront of the San Nicolas 
chapel at around 10:45 a.m. when two armed men approached him and shot him 
at close range several times.

He succumbed to four gunshot wounds on the different parts of his head and 
body.

Anna Luna, 13, the victim's younger sister, said she saw the two armed 
suspects shooting his brother.

She said one of them was half-naked and was only wearing maong shorts.

The two reportedly ran away after the incident and immediately boarded a 
waiting getaway motorcycle and sped off towards unknown place.

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

Chief Insp. Vicente Danao, commander of the Talomo police station, said 
Tagud was allegedly involved in illegal drugs in his place.

Danao  even admitted that there are still several people in the area who 
are engaged in drug peddling.

Tagud's mother Conrada, however, said her eldest son had already reformed.

She said she was even happy that Tagud was working in a construction firm.

Tagud bore a big dragon tatoo on his right arm.

In the other incident, Amarillo and his companions were waiting for a ride 
near Riverview Apartment in Purok 13-A at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday when two men 
on board a motorcycle arrived and the back-up rider pulled a shotgun and 
peppered them with bullets.

Amarillo was hit on the head and right leg. He died at around 5 a.m. 
yesterday while being treated at the Davao Doctor's Hospital.

Almendras and Bultron, who were only wounded in their arms and legs, are 
still at the hospital.

Witnesses said the motorcycle-riding suspects escaped towards Maa Proper.

Generoso Amarillo Sr. described his namesake son, the youngest of the four 
siblings, as obedient.  He said sometimes the young Amarillo would indulge 
in smoking and drinking.

"My son was not troublesome, but I do not know the behavior of his other 
peers.  I haven't heard of any observation that he was involved with any 
gang," Amarillo said.

He said he did not have any idea if his son had enemies.

Meantime, two unidentified armed men gunned down a housewife 11:30 AM 
Wednesday in Bgy. 76-A, Bucana.

Salacia Antolin, 46 years old, a plain housewife was walking towards a 
sari-sari store when peppered with bullets by the suspects.  The victim 
sustained fatal wounds in the head and body and is in a critical condition 
at the Davao Medical Center.

The motive and identity of the suspects remain unknown as of presstime.
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