Pubdate: Sat, 12 Feb 2005
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Analiza Q. Leyba
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

DAGUPAN CITY RESIDENTS FEAR BEING TAGGED AS
RP'S 2ND 'SALVAGING CAPITAL'

DAGUPAN CITY: City residents are afraid that Dagupan City is fast catching 
up with Davao City as the country's capital of summary executions.

City residents expressed their fear after one more suspected criminal was 
found dead at a grassy area near the golf course in Barangay Bonuan Binloc 
here.

Police identified the victim as Brando Ramirez, 42, of 126 Amado Street, 
this city, a notorious police character with a charge record that includes 
illegal drugs, car theft and robbery.

Ramirez, the first victim of a "salvaging" this year, is believed to have 
been killed by vigilantes who are also responsible for several other 
unsolved killings in the city over the past three years.

Police said Ramirez sustained several gunshots on different parts of his 
body. Recovered at the crime scene were three empty cartridges and two 
slugs, which are believed to be .30-caliber pistol.

Residents heard gunshots at around 2 a.m. on February 5 but investigators 
said the perpetrators might have killed him elsewhere and dumped his body 
in Bonuan Binloc because there was very little blood at the crime scene.

No cardboard was found tied to his neck, compared with the other criminals 
who were found dead in Bonuan Binloc. Chief Supt. Candito Quijardo said 
Ramirez might have been killed in a drug war.
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