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Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Vigilantes get 165th victim
While making a tombstone, a man was killed outside the cemetery in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City yesterday morning by two men on a motorcycle, less than a block from a private school.
One of the witnesses claimed he spotted a pair of handcuffs and a holster tucked into the back of the gunman’s waistband, raising speculations a policeman was involved.
However, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. and Cebu City Homicide Section Chief Mario Monilar, in separate interviews, said that is “highly speculative” for now.
Both officials pointed out handcuffs and holsters are “very accessible to everybody.”
Chief Supt. Alarcio, however, clarified he met with Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin yesterday and ordered him to investigate, particularly on the handcuffs and holster spotted on the gunman.
Alarcio called for the meeting with Gayotin and other heads of intelligence units, including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7, to come up with a concerted effort against the vigilante-style killings in Cebu.
“Proceedings will be conducted even if those involved turn out to be members of our organization,” Alarcio added.
The victim was identified as Benjamin V. Raganas, 42, single, and a resident of Barangay Carreta.
He was considered the 165th victim in the vigilante-style killings in Cebu City since Dec. 22, 2004.
Sun.Star Cebu called up the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center to check if Raganas had any records there, but was told by an employee at the records section that there were no entries about Raganas in the Cebu City jail.
The attack occurred at 9 a.m., near the gate of the Carreta Cemetery facing Gen. Maxilom Ave., where Raganas was busy making a tombstone.
A witness (name withheld for security reasons) said a dark motorcycle with two men on board stopped near Raganas. They both wore helmets.
Before getting off the motorcycle, the one who was riding at the back shot Raganas once. He then stepped down and fired three more shots at Raganas, who was down on the pavement.
Raganas’ mother Leonarda saw the attack.
Her son was taken to the Cebu City Medical Center, but died before reaching the hospital. The bullets hit his right arm, right side of his body and his head.
A team of homicide investigators led by SPO2 Jay Yballe and personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operations 7 recovered four empty shells from a .45 pistol.
After shooting Raganas, the gunman casually walked back to the waiting motorcycle while putting his gun back into a holster, the witness said.
That’s when the witness saw the handcuffs.
The gunman wore a yellow T-shirt, denim shorts and white rubber shoes, while the driver sported a white sweatshirt and denim shorts.
Gayotin, in a separate interview, said he coordinated with Monilar to conduct a thorough investigation on the attack.
Gayotin also urged the witnesses to cooperate. Police have blamed the witnesses’ silence for their failure to crack any of the cases so far.
Pro-life and human rights advocates, including Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal, have repeatedly called for an end to the summary executions.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu City Chapter, Commission on Human Rights and a representative of the US Government have already raised concerns on the killing. As with the case of Davao City, most of the victims were convicted or suspected criminals.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 14, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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