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Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Ex-councilor survives second ambush
By Raquel C. Bagnol
DAVAO -- Former city councilor and broadcaster Juan Porras Pala Jr. survived another attempt on his life along Mamay Road, Buhangin District, Davao City at around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday.
Only four bullets hit the taxi Pala was riding in while a big number of shells from an armalite rifle were found all around the crime scene.
Pala, an announcer of radio station dxGO and known for his sharp attacks on personalities, was riding a taxi from work when five men aboard a black van opened fire on the former councilor's vehicle.
Pala was hit in the buttocks because he managed to get off the taxi and flee.
Police said Pala was in the front seat of a Kia taxicab bearing plate number LWJ 736 when he noticed a black Nissan Urvan in front of them.
From the van, three armed men wearing black police uniforms and black ski masks peppered their taxi with bullets.
The assailants withdrew after Pala's three bodyguards identified as PO2 Melchor Castillones of the City Mobile Group (CMG) and Roberto and Nonoy Porras, members of the Intelligence Security Unit (ISU) based in Panacan, Davao City, fired back.
Not one of Pala's bodyguards was hit. Castillones sustained a few bruises on his left knee.
Near outpost
The ambush happened about 60 meters away from the outpost of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, a member group of the task force created after the Sasa wharf bombing on April 2.
Taxi driver Felomino Rejas, 30, of Agdao, said he was not able to see the faces of the assailants.
In an interview at the San Pedro Hospital, Pala said he was about to go home to Panacan after his program "Action Hotline" at dxGO.
He felt something was wrong when he saw the van and immediately alerted his bodyguards.
An official of the Scene of the Crime Operation (Soco) disclosed that only four bullets hit the taxi but several empty shells of various firearms, mostly from M16 armalite rifles, were recovered at the crime scene.
Castillones said they all jumped from the taxi and served as backup for Pala who was able to run towards the bushes.
He said he is positive that he hit one of assailants before they fled.
"Igo gyud tong isa pero morag wa maantimano, naigo sad tong van," Castillones said. (I'm sure I hit one but not seriously. I also hit the van.)
Same group
Recovered from the crime scene were Pala's caliber .38 pistol, clutch bag and cellphone.
Residents near the scene said there was a motorcycle following the van and appeared to serve as its backup.
Task Force Davao members from a nearby outpost immediately responded while a helicopter was dispatched to hover around the area.
Pala said soldiers aboard the helicopter fired at the bushes prompting him to go out and raise his hands while shouting and identifying himself as the victim of the ambush.
Pala said he believes his attackers were the same group who ambushed him in 2001.
"Mao ra gihapong grupoha. Buang mga tawhana, pulis mang-ambush og pulis," Pala said. (It's the same group. Policemen ambushing policemen; they are fools.)
Pala said he wants an independent body to investigate the incident.
"I will not allow any local and national investigation to be conducted. I want an independent body. Gusto nako si Matillano (I want Matillano)," Pala said referring to Gen. Eduardo Matillano of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG).
Out of danger
Pala, who sustained a lone gunshot wound in his left thigh, is recuperating at Room 426 of the San Pedro Hospital and is already out of danger.
"Akong hagiton si Duterte, asa na iyang peace and order," Pala said. (I am challenging Duterte on his peace and order drive.)
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Pala blamed unnamed government and police officials.
Pala, who survived an ambush at around 9:15 a.m. last June 14, 2001 at the Circumferential Road near the Medical School Foundation Drive, Bajada, Davao City, has been traveling with bodyguards for more than a decade now.
In the 2001 ambush, Pala sustained gunshot wounds in his shoulder and arm while his driver-bodyguard 1Lt. Lito Aguansa was hit in the head, neck and left leg and another bodyguard, Romeo Rulona, was injured from the glass in the vehicle's windshield when it shattered.
About 39 journalists have been murdered in the Philippines since democracy was restored here in 1986, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said earlier this month in its annual report.
No one has been convicted for any of the murders. With RCO/Sun.Star Davao
(April 30, 2003 issue)
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