Apart from killing human rights and social activists, gunmen in the southern Philippines are carrying out the systematic slaughter of persons accused of involvement in criminal activities and even some who have been the victims of crimes. Dozens have died in such incidents.

In a span of three months 29 persons, five of whom were minors, have been reported murdered in separate shooting incidents in General Santos City. This figure is a small fraction of the actual number of killings, most of which remain undocumented. The gunmen, usually armed with .45 caliber pistols and riding on motorcycles, go out on shooting sprees and take out their targets with complete impunity.

This pattern is also occurring in the neighboring cities of Davao and Digos, all in Mindanao. The murder of persons with criminal records or thought to be involved in criminal activities is commonplace in these two cities. Such incidents seem to provoke no reaction among the people, regardless of the number of deaths, the way the victims are slaughtered, or their youth.

The effects of this mental conditioning are insidious; even government officials, who are charged with protecting their constituents’ lives and property, have openly and publicly endorsed the killing of those involved in crimes. In these cities all sense of the value of human lives and the people’s right to protection has been lost, along with the notions of due process and equal protection under the law.

Before the recent escalation of shooting incidents in General Santos City there was a rise in motorcycle thefts, with their owners sometimes killed by thieves in the process of grabbing their motorcycles. This has continued unabated since the latter part of 2007. Of the 29 cases mentioned above, eight were motorcycle drivers. Apart from these, a reliable source estimates that last January alone at least 10 motorcycle drivers were killed during robberies.

How did the police, local officials, the media and the community react to these repeated cases of motorcycle robberies and the murder of their drivers?

Almost daily, radio announcers and newspaper editorials attacked the police for their inability to solve such cases. The police responded by giving an ultimatum to their field commanders, who then drew up a list of persons suspected of involvement. Some of the people on such lists have subsequently been killed, but the police deny any hand in this.

Apparently due to disbelief that the perpetrators would ever be held accountable lawfully, some media personalities crossed the ethical boundaries of broadcast journalism by suggesting it was better to kill robbers than allow them to prey on motorcycle drivers. They described the criminals either as unworthy to live or are heartless beasts.

Such worthless and unintelligible debate has in fact been to the advantage of the police, as they could easily and conveniently exonerate themselves from any responsibility. Their powers and functions, which are clearly stipulated in Republic Act 6975, section 24, have been diluted and they have never been held to account. The police are supposed to ensure the protection of lives and property, ensure public safety, and investigate and prevent these crimes.

The murders of alleged criminals and those suspected of motorcycle thefts began in early March, and have continued almost every day. The desire for revenge against these people was bound to wane after so many people have fallen victim to murderers, including many innocents. Even local journalists, who earlier espoused or acquiesced in the murder of alleged criminals, now feel they have had enough. Radio and tabloid reporters describing the gory slaughter of dozens of persons, including children and the elderly, have started to feel the numbing effect of such violence.

Hopefully these feelings will cause people to reflect on what they have been doing, and realize that depriving a person of his or her life on the mere suspicion of committing a crime is unjust and can never be an expedient to solving crimes. It is not too late for the people of this city to recover from the collapse of law enforcement and administration of justice, it they pool their actions for the common good.

The police and local government are ultimately responsible for their failure to protect lives and property in allowing the slaughter of alleged criminals and robbery victims. The victims of motorcycle robberies have mindlessly been accused of enticing robbers, and thus deserving the deaths meted out by murderers.

Prosecution of these cases may be impractical given the lack of witnesses willing to cooperate. However, this does not justify turning a blind eye to the murder of suspects without affording them the protection of the law.

MINORS ARE TARGET, TOO: Gunmen shot dead this boy in a crowded street in Davao City, Southern Philippines. Like many other dozens of killings perpetrated by gunmen riding on motorcycle, this boy’s murder too, was on pretext he had been involved in criminal activity.Photo by Tambayan Center, Inc.

Within a span of 24 hours, according to SunStar Superbalita, a local tabloid newspaper, three persons, including a 17-year-old boy, had been murdered by gunmen riding on a motorcycle on May 16 and 17 in General Santos City, the Philippines.

As in previous cases of murders of this nature, all three had been accused of committing criminals offenses previously. Below is the brief English version of the said report;

Shot in front of his playmates

Date: May 16 at 7:30pm
victim: Alfredo Secuya Jr., 17 years old; of Zone 3, Block 0, Barangay Fatima

Alfredo Secuya Jr. was playing basketball when he was approached by gunmen who shot him twice. Two slugs from a .45 caliber pistol had been recovered from the crime scene. There were suspicions he could have been killed by “hired killer” and that he had been involved in illegall drugs after having been swayed by his friends.

This man orphans three children

Date: May 17 at around 10am
Victim: Ruel Medrano, 22 years old; of Purok San Roque, Barangay Labangal

Ruel Medrano was seen eating a snack in one of the stores when gunmen shot him dead. The gunmen, armed with a .45 caliber pistol, had approached the victim unnoticed shoting him on the head at close range. Three slugs from a pistol were found from the crime scene.

Though Ruel’s mother, Erlinda, admitted her son have had previous record of theft for stealing a mobile phone, but it happened a long time ago and they had already returned the stolen item to the owner.

“Ambot nganong gipatay man nila ang akong anak, wala silay kasing-kasing, ang akong hangyo sa mga nakakita unta motabang sa akoa aron akong maangkon ang hustisya sa kamatayon sa akong anak nga ilang gipatay, gi-angkon nako na nga may kaso na pero gibayran na nako to, looy kaayo kay may tulo pa kana nga anak nga iyang nabilin (I don’t know why they killed my son, they have no heart. My plea for those who have seen those who had killed him to help me obtain justice. I admit that my son has had a theft case before, but I already paid for it. I feel pity to his three children he had orphaned)”

Killed for being previously detained

Date: May 17 at around 7pm
Victim: Bembo Aponesto, 31 years old; of Purok 2, Rajah Muda, Barangay Bula

Bembo Aponesto was standing just outside the house of his friend when he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. Two gunmen, carrying a .45 caliber pistol, were seen approaching him before they shot him. He suffered three gunshot wounds to his head killing him instantly. The community police, however, claimed Bembo had previously been detained in their police station for committing an offense.

Photo above is a TV grab from ABS-CBN television wherein the police had rounded up person they accused involved in criminal activities.

According to this report below from SunStar Superbalita, a local newspaper in General Santos City, the police had already established that the weapons used by the gunmen responsible in the unabated killings had come from the same firearms.

According to their ballistic test of slugs and empty shells recovered, particularly the .45 caliber pistol that is usually being used by the gunmen, the signatures came from the same weapons. This has strengthens suspicions over the possibility of the existence of a gun for hire group in the city.

Four other person had been reported killed this month, they were Cristolo Parapon, 27; of Asai Village, Barangay Bula; Teo Rima, 22; of Dagohoy Paradise, Barangay North; Danilo Banay-Banay, 17; of Purok Lanoy, Barangay Calumpang and Ruben Alisin, 57; of Zone 6, Barangay Labangal.

Suspek sa patay 1 grupo
Ni Mel Coronel, SunStar Super Balita

MIGAWAS sa pagsusi sa Crime Laboratory 12 sa siyudad nga usa ra ka grupo ang nagpaluyo sa sunod-sunod nga patay sa dakbayan basi sa nakuhang kabhang sa bala nga ilang gipanggamit.

Nasayran nga nakasinati og sunod-sunod nga kaso sa pagpamusil patay ang siyudad sa milabay’ng mga adlaw kung asa sa bulan sa Mayo moabot na ngadto sa walo ka mga tawo ang gipangpusil patay wala pay labot niini ang napagan lang sa mga suspetsado.

Niadtong nakalabay’ng Sabado, upat ka mga tawo ang gipangpusil sa siyudad apan tulo kanila nabugtoan sa ilang kinabuhi tungod pulos sa ulo ang ilang igo gamit ang .45 kalibre sa armas sa mga suspek nga susamang gipanghulagway sa mga testigo nga sakay sa single nga motorsiklo.

Ang mga nangamatay karong bulana nailhan nga sila si Cristolo Parapon, 27, minyo, nga taga Asai Village, Barangay Bula; Teo Rima, 22, minyo, molupyo sa Dagohoy Paradice, Barangay North; Danilo Banay-Banay, 17, molupyo sa Purok Lanoy, Barangay Calumpang; Ruben Alisin, 57, minyo, molupyo sa Zone 6, Barangay Labangal;

Mga balinis nga nakuha sa otoridad atol sa pagpamusil sa mga biktima gipangdala sa Laboratory ug nasuta nga usa lang ka armas ang gipanggamit sa mga suspek hinungdan nga migawas sa ilang imbestigasyon nga usa lang ka grupo ang nagpaluyo sa pagpamatay.

Apan hangtud karon dili pa kompirmahon sa kapulisan kung duna bay mga gun for hire nga nakasulod na karon sa siyudad nga gikan sa dakbayan sa Davao. Ilang gibarugan nga daghang mga kaso sa siyudad onsehan sa grupo ang hinungdan nganong daghang gipamatay.

His passengers shot him dead

Date: April 1 or 2; at San Pedro Street, Mateo Road, Barangay Bula
Victim: Jun Villamor, 57; a resident of Sto. Nino, Alabel, Sarangani

Jun Villamor was shot dead by two of passengers he was ferrying who allegedly had attempted to steal the motorcycle he was driving.

Jun was last seen driving his motorcycle with two other persons riding on his motorcycle. Before slamming his motorcycle underneath the back of a utility vehicle parked along the roadside, witnesses have heard gunshots.

Two of the attackers were seen escaping from the crime scene, one of whom was seen having difficulty of walking apparently from his injuries.

Jun suffered two fatal gunshot wounds from his back that pierced into his mouth. His artificial teeth frame was also found some 80 meters from where his dead body was pinned under a vehicle. His was identified through the motorcycle registration he had from his wallet. Some of the driver, who had come to the crime scene had also help identifying him.

His motorcycle, a red color Honda Wave model, was in total wreck.

Four killed, four wounded in a week

Date: from March 18 to 22
March 19
1. Gabriel Sintosas, 23; of Purok Malok (killed)
2. Emerson Estocado, 21; a resident of Purok San Roque, Labangal (killed)
March 20
3. Jonel Masula, 20; of Purok Litan, Barangay Sinawal
4. A 14-year-old person
Wounded:
5. Sadam Malagat
6. Ronie Ramos
7. Jerson and his brother;
8. Jonnel Lauron.

On March 18, Gabriel Sintosas, was shot dead at around 7:50am at his residence in Purok Malok, Barangay Labangal. At 9:10am also on that day, another victim, Emerson Estocado, 21; of Purok San Roque, was also killed.

On March 20, at around 9pm one Jonel Masula, 20 of Purok Litan, Barangay Sinawal and another 14-year-old were also murdered in Barangay Mabuhay.

Apart from those killed, four other teens have also been taken to General Santos City Hospital when unidentified gunmen shot them. The victims were Sadam Malagat, Ronie Ramos; and brothers Jerson and Jonnel Lauron. Two men riding on a motorcycle were seen shooting at them.

According to the police, those responsible in these attacks were persons described as about 5′5 feet tall, about 25 to 30 years of age. They were using a black Honda wave without a license plate.

Gunmen kill 16-yeard-old

Date: March 18, around 9:55pm along Barangay City Heights
Victim: Rolen Daganio (a.k.a dugong bunso), 16; a resident of Perez Subdivision, Barangay San Isidro

Rolen Daganio was with two of his relatives when he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding on another motorcycle. Rolen was waiting for his uncle and cousin who at the time stopped along the roadside to answer the call of nature.

His uncle, Rogelio Inconcillano, and cousin, Rember Nunez, said Rolen was waiting for them when attackers suddenly appeared and shot him.

The attackers were riding another motorcycle, a red XLR model. Rolen and his relatives were at the time on their way to a church. Rolen has died instantly as he was hit to his check piercing through his head.

The two gunmen Nakasibat had escaped towards the National Highway.
Rolen’s body was taken to the RBL Funeral Homes.

Found dead at a roadside

Date: March 10; at around 9:15pm in Purok Bulaong Extension, Barangay Labangal
Victim: Danilo Bactol, 45; a resident of Purok 3 Lanton, Barangay Apopong

Danilo Bactol was found dead and his motorcycle stolen shortly after he was last seen ferrying two other passengers whom he had picked up. He suffered gunshot wounds to his belly and back which reportedly resulted to his death.

Danilo’s body had been found at a roadside by some of the villagers in the area.
The motorcycle was driving, Honda Bravo X-100 with license plate number MC 4670, could no longer be located. It was apparently stolen by the attackers as it happens in other cases.

Danilo was taking the passenger to Purok Bulaong, a place close to where he was found dead, when they themselves had him killed. The police were able to recover two empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol. Danilo suffered two fatal gunshot wounds.

Former detainee shot dead

Date: March 7; at around 10:30am along Amao Road, Barangay Bula
Victim: Nasser Kamid, 28; of Purok Islam, Barangay South

Nasser Kamid was in the area when three attackers riding on a motorcycle, armed with a .45 caliber pistol, suddenly appears and shot him dead.

Though the police have yet to conclude their investigation; they however suggest that he had been previously detained at the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol).

Nasser suffered three gunshot wounds to his head. Three empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol had been recovered by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team at the crime scene.

The police, too, had impounded the motorcycle and safety helmets the attackers could have used when they attacked Nasser. The perpetrators had reportedly used another motorcycle, owned by another student, when they escape. It was however abadone close to a hospital.

Two of three suspects held; driver victim killed

Date: February 8 at 3:30pm along Sitio Linaw, Tinuto
Victim: Norsayda Dalagan, 16; of Barangay Bawing, General Santos.

Norsayda Dalagan had been hired by three passengers when they started attacking the former by repeatedly stabbing him as they pass through an inhabited place.

The three attackers, namely Armand Alero, 23; Arthur Ali Gosting, 23; and Teng Rebulan, 23, hired Norsayda’s service from Barangay Bawing towards Sitio Tampat, Barangay Tinuto. All the attackers were living in the same village.

However, upon reaching Sitio Linaw, Tinuto, they suddenly started stabbing Norsayda from the back. After the incident, the three men escape taking with them Norsayda’s motorcycle. They had hidden the motorcycle in a remote place.

But a witness who had seen the incident immediately reported to a nearby army detachment. One of the soldiers station there, Staff Sergeant Samuel Abucay had immediately responded by going to the crime scene which resulted to the arrest of one of the suspects. Alero. Staff Sergeant Samuel said Norsayda was still breathing when they arrived but he later died as they were about to take him to hospital.

“Nakit-an nako sir nga anaa sa daplin kritikal ang drayber nga si Norsayda ako na lang gipasakay sa usa ka sakyanan aron dad-on sa ospital apan wala na makaya sir nakabsan na siya sa iyang kinabuhi (I saw the driver in critical condition along the roadside. I thought of taking him to hospital by another vehicle but he already died),” Samuel said.

As the police were taking Alero to the nearby Municipality of Maasim, Sarangani, they had been informed that another suspect, Arthur, was seen escaping by riding on a passenger van. The police set-up a checkpoint along Barangay Bawing and eventually resulted to the arrest of Arthur. The two arrested persons were detained in Maasim.

Survives murder attempts by neighbor

Date: February 4; at around 8pm
Victim: Roger Gojeli, 19;

Roger Gojeli was ferrying his neighbor, a certain Iko, when the latter and his companion started repeatedly stabbing him, as they were forcibly taking his motorcycle.

Roger suffered 24 stab wounds to his head. The suspects had escaped and abandoned him for dead thinking that he was already dead. Roger, however, played dead along the roadside, and immediately reported to police when the attackers left.

Roger said alyas Iko had hired him for Php30 to send him to Lote Calumpang from Purok Mauswagon, Labangal. However, as they were passing through in a dark place the suspect started stabbing him.

They immediately took the victim’s motorcycle with them.

In addition to our yesterday’s post, below are three more cases of senseless deaths continuously occurring in General Santos City, Mindanao.

Never expect he was the target, too

Date: April 18 at 2:25pm iin Purok 6, Sitio Lanton, Barangay Apopong
Victim: Jonathan Lanciso,30; of Purok 4 of the same place

Jonathan Lanciso was with a crowd of people watching volleyball game when two gunmen, armed with .45 caliber pistol, approached him shooting him to his forehead. The bullet hitting him had pierced through the back of his head and his neck.

The attackers had escaped onboard a single motorcycle they had parked nearby to unknown direction. None of those who had seen the shooting, however, had come forward that they were able to identify the two attackers. The motorcycle also had no license plate.

Jonathan, who had come from a nearby village, came into the said place to observe a feast of a patron saint there when he was killed.

A team of police investigators from the Scene of the Crime Operative (SOCO) had recovered two slugs from a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

The victim’s wife, Agnes, had no idea to what could have been the motive into her husband’s murder. However, she said her husband had once told him that they had been hearing humors someone would be killed in their place but they never know who. This prompted her to remind her husband repeatedly into taking precautions.

“Nag-ingon ang akong bana sa akoa nga dunay patyon sa among lugar, mao na nga ako pod sige og sulti sa iya nga mag-amping kay basi siya usab tripan. Apan ingon niya sa akoa nga nganong mahadlok man siya nga wala man siyay sala. (My husband told me someone would be killed in our place. That is why I also had kept on telling him to take precaution as he could be needlessly targeted. But he told me, why he should be afraid since he didn’t do anything wrong)”

Tinuod napriso na ang akong bana usa ka tuig og tulo ka bulan tungod napasanginlan nga nakawala og pusil apan nakit-an man kadto ang pusil hinungdan nga siya gibuhian. Apan wala nay dautang record ang akong bana sa amoa. (It is true that my husband had been detained for a year and three months after having been falsely accused of lossing a firearm. But it was later recovered that is he was released. He had no records of wrongdoing in our place)

Meanwhile, another man who had also lost a one to unabated killing, Cesar, had expressed his disappointments with the government for its continuing failure to solve the killings there. His was the father of a village policeman who had been killed in Barangay South days earlier.

“Sa tinuod lang, ako anaa man usab sa gobyerno apan daghan nang patay ang nahitabo sa atong lugar apan nakadungog ba kamo nga dunay taho nga dunay nasulbad sa gipamatay sa siyudad, wala. (To tell you the truth, me too I am a government employee; however, there have been killinsg taking place in our place but have you heard any of it being solved? Nothing.

Bisan ako wala ko magdahum nga apil ang akong anak mabiktima usab niining extra judicial killings sa siyudad nga hangtud karon dakong problema lang gihapon. Nawad-an nako og pagsalig nga maangkon pa namo ang hustisya sa kamatayon sa akong anak. (Even me, I never thought that my son would also be one of those fallen victim to this extra-judicial killings in our city. I already lost trust that we would still be able to obtain justice for my son’s death),” he told local radio, Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).

Witnesses blinded by fear to laborer’s murder

Date: April 16 at around 2:40pm in Purok Malok Barangay Labangal
Victim: Consorcio Cepalda, 28; married, a resident of Purok Silway, San Juan, Barangay West

Consorcio Cepalda, a labourer working for Cebu Metal Corporation, was standing in front of his workplace waiting for a cargo truck, when two armed men, riding on a single motorcycle suddenly approached and shot him.

After the shooting, the gunmen had immediately escaped. Consocio’s colleagues had immediately come to his rescue taking him to the Diagans Cooperative Hospital. However, nearly three hours later he died while being treated there. He suffered gunshot wounds to his forehead and his back.

Police investigators themselves had difficulty investigating the case since the people who could have witnessed the incident refused to cooperate, a policeman said;

“Mao lagi na ang atong giproblemahan sa pagkakaron kay mismo ang mga tawo sa palibot pulos ambot, ambot, ambot. (Our problem is even the people who are there close to the crime would always say they didn’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know)”, said police investigator Senior Police Officer (SP01) Rex Diongon.

Dili (sila) andam motabang sa imbestigasyon hinungdan nga daghang mga kasong patay sa siyudad wala masulbad kay mismo gani ang mga nakakita bisan diha sa palibot dili man motabang bisan na lang unta nga mohatag sa ilang nasayran. (The witnesses had refused to cooperate that is why there have been several cases of killings in our city remains unsolved. Those who had witnessed the crime refused to cooperate even to sharing what they knew),” he added.

Gunman casually walked after shooting victim dead

Date: April 9 at 8:30pm at corner Magsaysay Avenue and Salazar street
Victim: Romy Aristoteles, 33; a resident of Zone 3, Purok Matinabangon, Barangay Labangal

Romy Aristoteles, a passenger motorcycle driver, was waiting for passengers he could pick up on street, when a gunman, armed with a .45 caliber pistol, suddenly shot him to the back of his head.

After the shooting, the attacker casually walked away from the crime scene.

Romy fell with his blood splatter to the ground. His fellow driver, Eleazar Patallo, immediately come to his rescue after he was shot. He took him to the St. Elizabeth Hospital but few hours later he died. Romy’s body was taken to the Labajo Funeral Homes.

Romy had suffered gunshot wound to the back of his head that also pierced through his forehead. A slug from .45 caliber pistol had been recovered from the crime scene.

Romy’s family was clueless to what could have been the attacker’s motive or reasons of killing him.

Below are five individual cases, made available for translation so far from SuperBalita, a bilingual newspaper in General Santos City, depicting how senseless deaths are continuously taking place there–which has worsened since the beginning of year 2008.

The local authorities, particularly the police, has since been unable to solve these cases, arrest those responsible and to prevent this incidents from taking place.

Killed for leading a teeners’ group

Date: May 12 at 2:20pm; at his residence
Victim: Epedilito Vallenti, 18; of block 1, Santiago Subdivision, Barangay (Village) Bula, General Santos City

Epedilito Vallenti was shot suddenly by a gunman who had approached him as he was standing outside their house. He suffered two gunshot wounds to his head and neck respectively. They attackers, riding on a motorcycle, were seen shooting the victim soon after coming close to him.

Epedilito’s father, Roger, was awakened by his children who had told him that their brother was shot. Roger immediately took his son towards the hospital for medical attention. Epedilito, however, died later at the General Santos City Hospital while being treated there.

“Wala lagi koy masulti sa binuhatan sa akong anak, basta giila man daw ni siya nga lider sa ilang grupo kay ang iyang mga barkada mga gagmay pa man sa iyaha, ambot unsay sala sa akong anak nganong nahimo sa mga suspek ang pagpusil. Hinuon, permi lang gyud ni siya nagalakaw matag gabii, istorbo man gani sa among pangatulog tungod kay mouli na siya kaadlawon na,” his father said of him.

Shot dead for lending motorcycle to robbers

Date: May 8 at 9:35am along Yakal street, Ecoland
Victim: Antonio Dacalos Oh, 35; of Sitio (sub-section of Barangay) Kalubihan, Ecoland, Davao City.

Antonio Dacalos Oh was shot dead by motorcycle riding gunmen allegedly over suspicions he himself was involved in a robbery incident when the motorcycle his family own had used by robbers.

Antonio was standing near a store along Yakal street, Ecoland when the attackers, hooded with balaclavas, shot him dead. He was together with his neighbor, Gerry Concon, when the attacker, without any word shot him at close range. He died on the spot due to fatal gunshot wounds to his head.

After the shooting, the gunmen had escape to unknown direction. Recovered from the crime scene were three empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol. It is said that Antonio’s killing could have been motivated by his supposed involvement in the robbery that took place in General Santos City days earlier to which his siblings had denied.

Breadwinner orphans five children

Date: April 27 at around 7pm in Purok Kulasi, Barangay Labangal, General Santos City
Victim: Danny Ramirez, 37; of Purok Matinabangon of the said village

Danny Ramirez was himself shot dead by gunmen also riding on a motorcycle. He had just left from his home telling his wife, Delia, that he would come back shortly after ferrying some passengers. Driving passenger motorcycle is where Danny earns his livelihood for his family.

It is said that as Danny was coming out from his village, he had been followed by his attackers riding on another motorcycle from the place where he had come from.

Immediately after getting a chance, they shot him dead at close range. The motorcycle Danny though has not taken –which is contrary to previous incidents of killings of drivers where attackers also took them away.

His wife Delia said of his husband’s death: “Wala ko magdahum nga patyon nila ang akong bana kay wala man kiniy dautang rekord sa among lugar. But-an man kining akong bana. Gani naningkamot siya nga maghabal-habal aron lang dunay income ug dunay ikapakaon sa among mga anak kay lima ka buok. Ang akong anak, unsaon man nako kini karon sa pagpadako nga wala na ang ilang amahan. (I never thought they would kill my husband. He had no criminal records in our place. He was a good man. He had been a responsible husband by working as driver to be able to feed our five children. How am I going to raise by children without a father?)

Sa ako lang sir wala ko masayod nganong gipatay nila ang akong bana (I really don’t know why they had to kill him)”, she further said in an interview.

Six slugs from a .45 caliber pistol had pierced into Danny’s head killing him instantly. The police, too, were able to recover the empty shells at the crime scene.

Murdered, robbed for his newly loaned bike

Date: April 21, at around 10pm Purok San Roque, Barangay Labangal, General Santos City
Victim: Steward Devenagracia, 22; of Purok Matinabangon of the same village

Steward Devenagracia, whose identity has not been known three days after he had been murdered, was shot dead while he was also ferrying his passengers. He was one of the many drivers who gad fallen victims to increasing incidents of motorcycle robberies wherein robbers also kill the driver.

Steward was last seen ferrying a female passenger from a wharf in Makar, of the same village, where he usually awaits for passenger, before he was found dead. Usually drivers are not suspicious of female passengers amidst the unabated killing of drivers. It was not immediately known though whether the woman was involved; but there are suspicious she could have been used as bait.

Steward suffered gunshot wounds to his head the pierced through his back.

When the shooting took place, villagers living nearby heard two gunshot wounds but were unable to recognize the identity of those who had killed him. They, too, were unable to identify the victim as he was lying dead to the ground. His dead body was first taken to a nearby Labajo Funeral Home where his relatives had identified only days later after he failed to come home.

Steward’s motorcycle, which was loaned by his family from an appliance center three days earlier, was also stolen by his attackers. He was wearing at the time a green jacket, a khaki short pant and a white shirt.

Steward’s mother said of him: “Nanginabuhian na ang akong anak bisan gabii aron daw dunay ikapalit og gatas sa iyang usa ka anak, kay kaslonon pa unta na sila sunod nga tuig apan napigaduhan lagi hinungdan nga sunod tuig pa ang ilang kasal, daan na man na siyang gisultihan nga moundang na lang sa iyang paghabal-habal kay daghan na ang gipamatay sa dakbayan pero bisan og usa wala pay nasulbad ang kapulisan, ingon niya sa ako nga wala na siya nagakompiyansa,” matud sa inahan.

Shot in front of his sister

Date: April 20 at 12:30am along Purok Jhonny Ang Paradise, Barangay City Heights
Victim: Roger Bagalangit, 23; of Purok Saludin, Barangay Labangal

Roger Bagalangit was shot dead in front of his sister, Resalie, shortly after coming out from a village where they had a drinking session along Jhonny Ang Paradise. They were waiting for a ride on their way home, when one of the attackers, armed with a .45 caliber pistol, suddenly appeared shooting Roger.

Roger was hit at the back of his head piercing through his forehead. His sister immediately took him to the Socsargen County Hospital but he had died on his way. His sister believes he was the attackers’ target since they did not harm her.

Soon after the shooting, the attacker was seen escaping together with another person onboard a single motorcycle waiting for him nearby.

If Vincent Van Gogh used sunflower as  his object in one of his renowned painting to depict the realties of his time, in the Philippines, a widow, too, find this fits to illustrate not only hers of women’s role in modern times.

Florence Manegdeg, a widow with two children, made her first oil paint above entitled “”Sacred  Breath” on a theme of “”Women as  Mythical  Hero” for an exhibit for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in Manila on June 15, 2008.

Florence said of her oil paint;

Arts  is  a  venue   I  am  enjoying   now.  Sana  mabili  ang aking  gawa (i hope my paint will be bought).  But  most  importantly,  nakikilala  ako maliban  sa  pagiging  isang  (I am being known as a ) widow  seeking  truth  and  justice  which  is  just  one  portion of  the next  chapter  of my  life.

Unknown to many, Florence’s coping following the tragic death of her husband and the subsequent insecurity she and her children had suffered, is perhaps incomparable to others, but nothing new to families of social and human rights activities in the country.

In her painting above, an image of a surreal woman playing a nose flute; the sunflower; a  mountainous terrain and a green plant, is a byproduct of a woman’s enlightening thoughts who has struggled and has survived from an unthinkable tragedy.

A photo taken in Pigcawayan before the flood -ed

In this report by Mindanews on May 1, it reported that the North Cotabato provincial government, a province in Central Mindanao, have declared the affected municipalities in their province devastated by flood in a state of calamity; and started distributing food aid and relief.

At least 8,500 hectares of farm crops–rice, corn and vegetables–had been destroyed and wasted. Some of them are even ripe for harvest or just been planted by farmers. The affected municipalities were Pigcawayan, Libungan, Midsayap, Aleosan, and Pikit, all in the first district.

Declaring an area under a State of Calamity, as what the provincial government already did to these towns, would enable them allocate funds and needed assistance for the villagers. A certain amount of money would have to be drawn town’s coffer for this.

As what the local officials and social welfare personnel had been claiming they already did distribute food aid, allocate fund and other assistance.

…the provincial social welfare and development office have been distributing rice to about 900 families affected by the disaster; the local government has allotted some funds for additional assistance.

However, in a check with my parents-in-law living in Pigcawayan, we were told though this never existed. No food aid, relief goods, or any sort of assistance had reach them. We learned of it on May 11, ten days after this report from the government had come out.

So, where have these food aid and assistance gone?

As some of you maybe aware, GenSan, an acronym for General Santos City, a city located in Southern Philippines, is known for its tunas and boxing champs.

While I disagree to this city’s name turning into co-equals to the name that of a boxing champ, but what really tragic to this city is the lack of value for human lives and the tolerance of it.

The murder of 18-year-old Epedilito Vallenti of Barangay Bula of the same city on May 12, speaks to the city’s dark side. His death adds on to the spiraling deaths perpetrated by men riding on motorcycle.

As translation to this report by SunStar on May 14 speaks to how these killings becoming a way of life there;

“He was sitting outside when a man had approached him and without any word shot him on the head twice. His father upon seeing him being shot took him to the hospital where he died later”.

His parents had no idea why their son had to be killed; but were only told the motive could have been his supposed role as leader of their group. But, actually his group’s member were smaller than his–which suggest the absence of any sort of criminal activities they were doing.

The last count in March 2008 of cases of this nature had reached over 20s.

Apart from mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, more and more local chief executives have now been openly endorsing the killing of criminals.

This trend of either justifying or impliedly giving acquiescence to kill allege criminal and all crime offenders have now also become the trend in General Santos City and Digos City, the cities which are also facing continuing incidents of killings of alleged criminals.

In March 28, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in Hong Kong has criticized the action of Pedro Acharon Jr., mayor of General Santos, for justifying the killings of alleged criminals as being perpetrated by their own group.

It expresses concern over Acharon’s statement as seriously undermining the fundamental of due process and obligation of the State for the protection of one person’s right against arbitrary deprivation of life.

Meanwhile, in April 21, mayor Arsenio Latasa of Digos City has openly endorses killing of criminals following the unabated incidents of robberies in his city.

He was quoted to have said publised in Sun.Star Davao: “Dili na ni madala og komedya-komedya, buot ipasabot nga kun kinahanglang patyon, patyon na. Wa man gihapo’y pulos ning mga tawhana kay puro kawatan man ni (sic)” (We could no longer take this as a joke. It means that if we need to kill them (criminals), kill them. They are useless anyway since they are all robbers.

The AHRC has since criticized these Mayors’ actions, particularly Duterte, in their previous statement regarding this issue.