Drugs behind Ermita murders?

Homicide investigators of the Western Police District are eyeing the possibility that drugs could be behind the "salvage-style" killing of three men in Ermita, Manila, last week.

According to Senior Police Officer 4 Norberto Obrero, case-investigator, this angle was bolstered following the discovery of alleged shabu residue and shabu sniffing paraphernalia underneath the seat of the white Suzuki Vitara van where the three victims were discovered last April 4.

The three victims were later identified by police as Anthony Santos, 23, of 159 Shoe Avenue, Marikina City; Noel de Luna, 32, of 683 J.P. Rizal Street, Concepcion, Marikina City; and Junefre Vargas, 24, of 3 Exequel Street, Sto. Niño, Marikina City.

Obrero said the drug sniffing paraphernalia was discovered underneath the seat of De Luna, alias "Teroy." The victims were found seated inside the parked van at about 11:30 p.m. at the corner of J. Nakpil and Vasquez Streets.

Police said the van with plate number NJV-656, was stolen and belonged to Benilda Abila, 67, businesswoman of Parang, Marikina. Abila said the van originally registered as TSY-198 was found missing from its garage at about 5:30 a.m. on April 3.

Investigators said the three victims bore strangulation marks and welts on the necks and wrists, similar to those also found on three other dead men believed to also have been victims of a vigilante group.

But according to Obrero, those behind the latest killing could have just ridden on the vigilante issue to throw investigators off the track. Obrero said that initial checking showed that two of the victims were allegedly engaged in the illegal drugs trade.

"We strongly suspect that the killing was drug related. The three could have been silenced by their partners after they were double-crossed in a deal. Their killers could have just made the hit appear like a salvaging to confuse us," said Obrero.

Obrero added that the victims could have been killed elsewhere and dumped in Ermita.

A paltik or homemade caliber .38 revolver with one live bullet and three empty shells, and a fan knife were also found.

Hanging from the necks of the victims were cardboard signs reading "Pag Holdaper Patay" (Holduppers will be killed), "Huwag Magnakaw" (Don’t rob), and "Holdaper kami" (We are holduppers).