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Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Vigilantes on a roll: 3 men shot
By Mia E. Abellana
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
After three more suspected robbers were shot yesterday, the police are checking if a vigilante group is now operating in Cebu City.
Two of the suspects died on the spot in front of the Philtrust Bank on Colon St. about 8:30 a.m.
A third is still fighting for his life at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
The bank’s security guard Aladino Abejuela said four men were walking past the bank when two men on a red Kawasaki motorcycle suddenly came from behind and fired away at the group.
Yesterday’s incident brings to seven the number of suspected robbers killed after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeńa announced a P20,000 reward for anyone who disables a robber.
The rash of killings has alarmed a lawyers’ group and some political and church leaders. They said the trend may result to a “breakdown of society.”
First to fall in yesterday’s shooting was Jomar Caballes, 19, followed by Rolando Tabiron, 30. Both died on the spot.
Seeing his companions down, Jurie Basillute, 26, ran towards Sanciangko St. where he was shot in front of the back gate of the University of the Visayas.
Left behind
A fourth companion, who was reportedly left behind a few meters away because he stopped to pick up a comb on the sidewalk, escaped after he ran back to Parian where they came from.
Abejuela said he did not get a good look at the gunman because he was wearing a red helmet.
He only described the man as about 5’6” tall, medium build and armed with a .45 pistol.
Reports reaching the Mobile Patrol Group also stated that a white Tamaraw FX was seen in the area, but this was not confirmed.
Abejuela said the street was quite deserted because it was a holiday.
Acting Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Melvin Gayotin reiterated they had nothing to do with the killings.
He said he ordered his men to find out if a vigilante group is on the loose hunting down suspected robbers.
Concern
For Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) Chief Pablo Labra II, the number of unsolved murder cases gives the Philippine National Police a bad image.
In a separate interview, Labra said he was concerned about the killings, saying this added to the crime volume of the CCPO.
But Parian Barangay Captain William Balaga expressed support for the killings, saying it was high time someone did something about the spate of robberies.
“What can the police do? After arresting a suspect they set him free and he’s back on the street again. If this is one way to make our city peaceful then why not? If our city has become so dirty, why don’t we clean it?” he said.
Balaga, who went to the crime scene, told reporters that before Christmas, he heard reports that robbers from Mindanao were set to arrive in Cebu and strike in his barangay.
Partner
He said he came to check if these were the men, but he couldn’t identify them.
Caballes was identified by his live-in partner Aida Yaon, 25.
Yaon, who is one month pregnant, went to the crime scene after someone told her Caballes was shot dead.
She said she knew nothing about Caballes’ illegal activities, but said he was released from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center last Nov. 23. He had been detained for a robbery case.
Police recovered a Batangas knife from Caballes’ left back pocket.
Labra said that based on police records, Tabiron was considered the “tatay” of young snatchers, robbers and laglag barya operators.
Four shots
While no weapon was recovered from him, crime scene investigators found a .22 magnum at the side of the road from where Basillute was shot.
Police are not yet sure if this belonged to Basillute.
An eatery attendant, who asked not to be named, said she was watching television when she heard about four shots from outside.
When she went out to check, she saw Basillute flat on the ground.
Seeing that he was severely wounded, she and some men in the area carried him onboard a passenger jeepney and took him to the CCMC.
Aside from the gun and the knife, nine empty shells were recovered from the crime scenes on Colon and Sanciangko Sts.
(December 28, 2004 issue)
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