YEARENDER: Marine’s murder tops Makati cases

MANILA, Philippines - The attack on George Anikow – a 41-year-old Marine major and the husband of an American diplomat stationed in Manila – near an exclusive village in Makati City proved to be the biggest crime story in the files of the city’s police force as 2012 draws to an end.

Anikow’s death was only one of several controversial and unexpected incidents to confront the Makati City police in 2012.

The murder case filed against four young men accused of killing Ani­kow is still being heard by Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Winlove Dumayas.

Crispin dela Paz, 28; Juan Alfonso Abastillas, 24; Osric Cabrera, 27; and Galicano Datu III, a student of the De La Salle University, all pleaded not guilty during their arraignment as their lawyers filed motions asking the court to downgrade the charge to homicide, which is bailable, raising the argument that the accused could not have used superior force against Anikow, whose tours of duty included Afghanistan.

Makati police said Anikow, a resident of the Bel-Air Village, was being checked by security guards at the gate when the four suspects arrived aboard a gray Volvo sport utility vehicle (SUV) with license plate number TOJ-886 around 3:55 a.m. on Nov. 24. Police said the suspects intended to enter the village as a “shortcut” to Palm Village, where Cabrera lives.

Police said Abastillas, who was driving the SUV, rolled down his window and talked to the security guard when an allegedly drunk Ani­kow reportedly interrupted them and said, “You need to present your ID, the guard is checking you.”

Police said Abastillas initially ignored Anikow but before the SUV could move away, Anikow allegedly strongly tapped the left side of the vehicle. This caused the suspects to alight and confront Anikow. Police said village security guards tried to mediate but the argument soon turned into a brawl.

During the brawl, Anikow ran away from the suspects, who chased him. When the four caught up with Anikow, police said they continued to beat him until he fell to the ground. It was later learned that Anikow was also stabbed during the fight. Police later recovered a tactical knife inside the SUV.

School bullies

There is yet another case that is as shocking and controversial as the Anikow case. On Aug. 30, the silence of the upscale Colegio San Agustin (CSA) school in posh Dasmariñas Village was broken by an alleged gun-poking incident involving an angry parent of one student and an 18-year-old high school senior.

Police said suspect Alan Bantiles, a construction contractor and resident of 44 Stockholm street, Vista Real Classica Village, Quezon City, had his licenses for a Glock 9mm pistol and a .45 caliber pistol revoked by the Philippine National Police in the wake of the alleged gun-poking incident.

CSA student Jesus Manuel Garcia accused Bantiles of slapping him in the face and pointing a .45 caliber pistol at his head during a confrontation at the CSA faculty office last Aug. 30.

Garcia then lodged complaints for attempted murder, slander and slander by deed against Bantiles before the Makati City prosecutor’s office.

Violent demolition

On Sept. 24, violence broke out at Barangay San Isidro after a demolition team from the city government, aided by the city police, clashed with informal residents who refused to vacate a city government-owned compound along Guatemala street despite an order from the court for them to do so.

At least 22 persons were injured as demolition crews from the city engineer’s office evicted 86 families who refused to vacate the 800-square-meter government property. The informal settlers, for a short time, had managed to keep the demolition crews at bay by pelting them with rocks, bottles and human feces.

Following the violent eviction, Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay pressed for the filing of assault, physical injuries and damage to government property charges against leaders of the Guatemala Neighborhood Association, led by its president, Nilo Ojos.

Binay said prior to the clash between demolition teams and the informal settlers, the city government had exhausted all legal and diplomatic means to persuade the informal settlers to peacefully leave the area. On the site will rise a community complex that will house the barangay hall of Barangay San Isidro and a covered court.

According to Binay, Ojos and his group had discouraged many of the informal settlers from availing of the assistance offered by the city government.

Arrested during the violent clash were Ojos and informal settlers Dennis Leona, 21; Romulo Leona, 43; Rodito Yaranon, 44; Jestoni Pagamocan, 18; Jerric Abrogar, 18; Ricardo Tarrayo, 20; Michael de Lima, 36 and Gildo Gonzales, 20.

The violent demolition prompted Binay to call for closer coordination between the Philippine National Police and the city government during eviction operations.

Salcedo blast

On Jan. 23, a powerful explosion, allegedly caused by an improvised explosive device, rocked a vacant lot in Salcedo Village.

Makati police investigators said the explosion did not mean to injure or kill as it was set off at a vacant lot during the afternoon of the Chinese New Year holiday when many people are not expected to be in the area.