Pubdate: Sat, 02 Apr 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Edith Regalado
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution

DAVAO VIGILANTES STRIKE ANEW

DAVAO CITY - Summary executions are again on the rise in this southern
metropolis as supposed vigilantes have claimed their 69th victim this
year alone.

These extrajudicial killings remain unsolved. Police said they could
not pursue any lead since no one has come forward to testify.

"Ewan, takot siguro sila. Takot sila mabalikan (I don't know, maybe
they are afraid. They fear the killers might go after them)," said
Senior Superintendent Conrado Laza, city police chief.

Human rights and militant groups have expressed alarm over the
killings which have reportedly claimed the lives of over 200 people
since 2001, 69 of them in the first quarter of this year alone.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly denied having any hand in the
summary executions, although certain sectors here consider them to be
government-sponsored killings.

Laza told The STAR the police have been doing their best in going
after the perpetrators, but the absence of witnesses has stalled their
investigations.

"The problem is like this: it has always been in the minds of the
people that these killings are done by the Davao Death Squad (DDS). So
that everytime there is a summary execution, people would think (the
DDS is behind it)," he said.

Laza likened the situation to the early 1980s when the New People's
Army (NPA) virtually turned the city into a killing field.

"Before, when people here were killed by the NPA, they would say it
was the NPA and no one dared to come out and testify," he said.

Last Thursday, three men were killed by motorcycle-riding men
suspected to be vigilantes going after alleged drug pushers.

One of the victims, a certain Dindo Rebung, 27, was gunned down inside
the bakery where he was working.

Suspected vigilante killings also continue in Cebu City, where two
alleged felons were shot dead shortly after midnight Thursday,
bringing the death toll in the summary executions there to 40 since
last December.

The Cebu City chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
has sought the help of President Arroyo to look into the
vigilante-style killings.

"Despite opposition from responsible quarters, such summary executions
remain unsolved, leading to the prevailing belief that the police and
local officials either encourage or tolerate the illegal acts or
remain indifferent, or have been remiss in their duties to enforce the
law," the IBP Cebu City chapter said in a resolution.

Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena admitted that he might have
inspired the killings when he announced the creation of a crack police
team to go after criminals.

Democrito Barcenas, outgoing president of the IBP chapter, said they
have decided to elevate the matter to the President because they have
lost trust in the city government 
- ---