Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines) Copyright: 2006 Sun.Star Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690 Author: AIV Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution (Summary Execution) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?1043 (Christianity) BISHOPS TAKE UP MURDERS ISSUE The killing of two brothers in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City last Sunday deepened the Cebu Archdiocese's concern about Cebu's peace and order. The archdiocese is turning to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 to take action on the killings that have claimed 116 lives since Dec. 22, 2004. Msgr. Achilles Dakay said that as soon Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal returns from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) meeting in Manila, a manifesto will be drafted to request the NBI to step into the case. The document will also condemn the "senseless" killings, said Dakay, Cebu Archdiocesan media liaison officer. The Archdiocese finds it useless to address the problem to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena, according to an ABS-CBN TV Patrol report, after the mayor earlier said he is not keen on committing "all our forces to run after the vigilantes." The NBI 7 started looking into the vigilante killings last October, after the late NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. ordered an investigation. The agency has problems establishing leads since relatives of victims have not come forward with information. The Cebu City police has raised the same complaint. Dakay said the cardinal brought up the unsolved murder during the CBCP gathering. Vidal has expressed dismay that Cebuanos no longer care about human lives given the number of times he has condemned the killings. Two lawyers, Alex Tolentino Democrito Barcenas, had plan to file an administrative case for neglect of duty against Police Regional Office 7 Chief Eduardo Gador, Cebu City Police Office Chief Melvin Gayotin and Mayor Osmena. A stop to the killings was one of the wishes of Cardinal Vidal when he told the police to protect the people alive not dead in his New Year's Day mass. Brothers Rodrigo, 31, and Roderick Legaspi, 29, were shot dead inside their house in Lorega-San Miguel. Roderick's 10-year-old son John Rick was even hit by stray bullet in the right wrist. No witnesses could identify the gunman and his companion in the attack that took place before 7 p.m. Sunday. The two men wore helmets and covered their faces with handkerchiefs. Homicide investigator SPO1 Jay Yballe said the culprits arrived on a maroon motorcycle looking for the victims' elder brother, Rolly. Rolly is said to be an ex-convict and known for his drug business in the area. The gunman turned on Rodrigo after failing to find Rolly. He found Rodrigo inside the room where Roderick's son was sleeping. He shot Rodrigo in the head. Yballe said Roderick was shot when he tried to close the door to protect Rodrigo. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom