Pubdate: Mon, 10 Jan 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Author: Anthony S. Allada
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

RAMPAGE: 4 SLAIN IN 3 DAYS

FOUR more persons were slain over the weekend bringing the number of 
persons killed by unidentified armed men to 11 since January 1.

The latest victim was a 37-year-old newspaper vendor who was shot dead at 
around 5 am yesterday while attending his wares at Quirino Extension, 
fronting the Mercury Drug Store in Bankerohan public market here.

Raquelito Toroba, a resident of Phase I, SIR-New Matina, sustained four 
gunshot wounds on the different parts of his head and body and died on the 
spot.

Witnesses said that two men on board a motorcycle arrived and one of them 
pulled a handgun and shot Toroba repeatedly at close range.

A certain Victor Canoy, 47, a driver and security escort of businessman 
Charlie Gonzales, and who was sitting beside the victim, was hit by stray 
bullet.

Canoy, of Purok 35, Maharlika, Torres compound, Maa, was immediately 
brought to the Davao Doctor's Hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound 
on the right check.

Toroba's cadaver was later brought to the Angel Funeral Parlor for autopsy.

At 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, a contractor was also gunned down in Km. 13, 
Barangay Indangan in Buhangin district.

Benedicto Pardillo, of del Carmen Village, Sasa, was riding a passenger 
motorcycle from Buhangin Proper to Indangan when he was waylaid by two men 
who later shot him twice on the body.

Pardillo died on the spot.

Police report said the the victim, working as contractor of the staff house 
of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name, 
was on his way to the area to pay the salaries of his workers.

Responding policemen from the Buhangin police station recovered the 
victim's cash amounting P10,000, Nokia 5110 cellphone, calculator, steel 
tape measure, notebook, and other personal belongings.

A fellow contractor, Hernado Manigsasa, however, said that Pardillo had 
P76,000 cash at that time.

Manigsasa said he was just puzzled why the money recovered was only P10,000 
when policemen claimed that the victim's belongings were intact and were 
never taken by the assailants.

At 2:20 p.m. also on Saturday, an alleged gangmember was also slain by 
motorcycle-riding suspects in Barangay San Antonio, Agdao district here.

Leo Baogbog, 20, of Puting Lupa, Brgy. San Antonio, was drinking softdrinks 
with his friends in a store in Belisario Village, R. Castillo Street, also 
in Agdao when two men on board a motorcycle arrived and immediately 
peppered him with bullets.

Baogbog succumbed to three gunshot wounds on his head.

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

The victim's remains were brought to Patalinghug Funeral Homes.

Rumors were rife that Baogbog was a member of Disenting Rugby Boys (DRB) 
gang reportedly involved in a series of gang riots in his place.

On Friday night, a 30-year-old drug surrenderee was also shot to death in 
San Miguel, Barangay Centro, Agdao  district.

The victim was identified as Glen Mulle, a resident of said place.

His elder sister Jessica told policemen that she was inside their house at 
around 8:30 p.m. when she heard gunbursts outside.

And when she went out, she only saw her brother lying in a pool of blood.

Mulle was rushed to the Davao Medical Center where he was declared dead on 
arrival by attending physicians.

The death of the four victims brought the total number of vigilante-related 
killings to 11 just this year.

Last year, 98 people mostly involved in illegal activities were also slain. 
In 2003, 90 were also killed.
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