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Saturday, June 24, 2006
Gunned down while sleeping
While he was sleeping, a 36-year-old laborer was gunned down on top of a fishmonger’s table at 3 a.m. yesterday in the Taboan Public Market in Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City.
He was the 167th victim since a rash of vigilante-style attacks started in December 2004.
SPO2 Rey Cuyos identified the fatality as Ernesto “Erning” Allera, who died of a single gunshot wound in the head.
Cuyos’ team and the responding personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operations (Soco) 7 found a .45 caliber empty shell near Allera’s body.
Allera’s live-in partner told Cuyos the victim was jailed at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center for a theft case.
After serving his sentence, he was released from jail last July 11, 2005.
Several people who were in the market during the attack said the gunman casually approached Allera, who was sound asleep, and shot him once at close range.
Allera died on the spot.
Witnesses said that the gunman covered his face with a mask and was sporting a dark sweatshirt and jeans.
The gunman walked outside the public market and fled on a waiting motorcycle that a companion drove.
Several civic organizations have raised their concern on the seeming “culture of death” that has been developing in Cebu City since Dec. 22, 2004.
Nearly all of the victims were suspected or convicted felons, and the attacks were unprovoked, with several killed while sleeping or otherwise helpless in their own homes.
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter and the US Embassy were among those who expressed concern over the summary executions.
While saying he does not condone the killings, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has repeatedly said he prefers that criminals do not feel welcome so they will stay away from the city. (JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 24, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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