Pubdate: Wed, 27 Apr 2005
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: JST, KNR
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution

EX-CON SHOT DEAD WHILE ASLEEP

HE WAS released from the city jail last December. But his freedom
ended yesterday morning in another vigilante-style killing in Cebu
City.

The latest victim was identified as Danilo Lombrino, 36, a jobless
resident of Sitio View Hills, Barangay Quiot.

The ex-convict was found by his brother Benedicto sprawled on the
pavement, with a gunshot wound in the stomach. He was shot while
sleeping on a bamboo bench at 1:30 a.m.

No one from the area came out to give descriptions of the
perpetrators, leaving investigators in the dark as to the attackers'
identity and motive.

Lombrino's killing happened on the same day another man was killed in
what police believed was a fraternity-related attack, and the Regional
Trial Court (RTC), in separate decisions, dismissed two anti-drug
cases, both for lack of evidence.

But if sources from inside Judge de Gracia's sala are to be believed,
acquitted drug suspects Perlita Sy Milan, Randy Nakar and Carlito
Ramas do not want to go back to the streets for fear of "hunter team
liquidation."

Scared

"Somebody told them that most drug suspects released by the court end
up dead and they appeared shaken," said one court employee.

Milan, Nakar and Ramas were separately charged late in 2002 for
allegedly peddling and possessing some sticks of marijuana.

All three were arrested in separate buy-busts by the police in
Barangays Punta Princesa and Ermita.

In Barangay Quiot yesterday, residents including Benedicto said they
were awakened by gunfire, prompting them to check where it came from.

Responding investigators from the Cebu City Police Homicide Section,
led by SPO2 Jay Yballe, found Lombrino lying on his stomach on the
ground, right beside the bench.

Neighbors interviewed by Yballe at the crime scene said Lombrino was a
known snatcher in the barangay.

Records from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) revealed
that Lombrino was jailed last Aug. 10 for theft and concealing a
deadly weapon.

One More

He was sentenced to serve four months and one day for the two cases
against him. He served the sentence until Dec. 23.

No other cases were filed against Lombrino.

Lombrino's killing further pads the list of more than 40 victims of
vigilante-style attacks since Dec. 22. Most of the victims have BBRC
records.

An hour after Lombrino's death, a resident from Barangay Basak, Cebu
City landed in the Cebu City Medical Center after an attack by two
unidentified men along J.M. Basa and C. Padilla Sts.

In a report over ABS-CBN Cebu, the victim, only identified as Brad,
died of a gunshot wound in the back, more than an hour after he was
taken to the city hospital.

Initial investigation by the Homicide Section showed that Brad,
together with three acquaintances, was drinking when the gunmen
arrived and hurriedly walked in their direction.

Before the gunmen got near them, the four tried to run for safety. The
gunmen, however, caught up with Brad and shot him in the back.

Investigators are eyeing a fraternity-related case as a possible
motive in the shooting incident.

Drugs Cases

In the first drugs case dismissed yesterday, the arresting police
officer admitted during cross-examination that the buy-bust operation
that became the basis for the filing of the case was "made up."

Milan, who was arrested by elements of the Labangon Police Station on
Aug. 16, 2002, pleaded not guilty to a peddling charge.

PO1 Antonio Din, during direct examination, said he arrested Milan in
a buy-bust operation that involved the purchase of four marijuana
sticks for P20.

But, during cross-examination, Din sang a different tune. He said he
only knew of Milan's supposed illegal activities from an informant.

In his ruling, Judge Fortunato de Gracia noted that there was no test
buy conducted and that the buy-bust money was not dusted with
ultraviolet powder.

In the second case, de Gracia simply did not believe the statement of
the prosecution's sole witness, a barangay tanod.

Barangay tanod Ernesto dela Rama of Barangay Ermita narrated that on
Dec. 18, 2002, he and other barangay tanods arrested Nakar and Ramas.
After frisking them, the tanods found some marijuana sticks in their
possession.

He said they accosted them after receiving reports that the two, whom
he described as notorious robbers in the area, were carrying bladed
weapons.

On cross-examination, however, dela Rama said he did not know the two
before the incident, and gave a different account.
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