Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jun 2005
Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991
Note:  also listed for feedback
Author: Joy G. Romares
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Davao+Death+Squad
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

BIKE-RIDING GUNMEN KILL 3 MORE IN 12 HOURS

THREE more fell from the hands of motorcycle-riding gunmen in Davao
City, raising the number of victims of the vigilante-style killings in
the city to 101 for this year alone and 11 this month.

The three victims, including a woman, were shot dead in separate
incidents, which occurred 12 hours from each other on Tuesday night
and early Wednesday.

The latest victim was identified as Mark Anthony Perkins alias Marco
Tisoy, 23, of Panacan. He was killed at around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Witnesses said the incident happened while Perkins was alighting from
a passenger jeepney just in front of the South Sea Designs, Inc. on
Km. 11 in Sasa where he works.

Witnesses told police investigators two unidentified suspects
approached the victim and without provocation shot him several times.
The gunmen ran towards a waiting motorcycle after the incident.

"Nagpalit ko'g bugas sa atbang nakadungog ko'g mga buto. Duha ka tawo
nisakay dayon sa motor tulo sila tanan (I bought rice at a nearby
store when I heard gunbursts. I saw two men approached a waiting
motorcycle with another unidentified man onboard)," a witness said.

The witness said the suspects, onboard a DT motorcycle, sped off
towards Panacan.

Police said Perkins had been in and out of the Sasa police and Bunawan
police precincts for various crimes.

Perkins was a resident of Bunawan before.

"Involved ni siya'g mga panunggab, drugs ug sa gang (He is involved in
stabbing incidents, drugs and gang)," said Sasa police investigator
Police Officer 3 Alfredo Heliane.

First to fall 12 hours earlier was a taxicab driver, reportedly a drug
surrenderee, identified as one Joel Quimco, 35, of Nagsil Village in
Barangay Centro, Agdao.

Senior Police Officer 4 Ricardo Rona, Sta. Ana police investigator,
said the incident happened at around 7:30 p.m. while Quimco was
watching television in their living room.

Neil John, Quimco's son, told police that he was outside their house
when he heard four successive gunbursts prompting him to run and check
inside their house.

Neil John discovered his father bathe in his blood already
dead.

Neil John shouted for help, a concerned citizen then called for police
assistance.

A witness, identified only as Eustiquio, claimed that he saw four
unidentified men, whose faces were covered with towels, heading
towards the victim's house.

Eustiquio, the victim's neighbor, added that after a few minutes, he
heard successive gunbursts.

On the other hand, some neighbors claimed that they saw four
unidentified men sped off onboard two motorcycles after the incident.

Candida Padada, Quimco's live-in partner, who was not inside their
house when the incident happened, told police the victim was involved
in drug-related activities before, but has already reformed.

Police recovered two empty shells and a slug of a caliber .45 pistol
at the scene of crime.

Almost five hours after, at around 12:42 a.m., one Maria Teresa
Cabalhin, 39, vendor at the Sasa Wharf in Km. 10 and a resident of
Panacan, Davao City was shot dead by two unidentified suspects.

Police Officer 3 Alfredo Heliane, of Sasa police precinct, said that
Cabalhin was on her away home walking with one Dahlia along Sasa Wharf
when a red Honda Dream motorcycle stopped beside her, one of the
suspects shot her several times without provocation.

Reports said Cabalhin had attempted to run, but the gunman shot her
again.

The suspects sped off after the incident, while the victim was brought
by Dahlia to the Davao Medical Center (DMC).

But Cabalhin died after 15 minutes while she was undergoing treatment
at the hospital.

Dahlia told police she is does not know whether Cabalhin is involved
in any illegal activity.

"Wala ko kabalo, ang nahibal-an lang nako naa siya'y utang (I do not
know, what I knew is she has debts)," Dahlia told police.

Recovered at the crime scene were two empty shells and a slug of a
caliber .45 pistol. 
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