'Vigilantes' return to Negros

There has recently been a surge in crimes in Negros Occidental as well as in Iloilo province. But the most disturbing phenomenon was the return of the so-called vigilantes. So far, two victims of salvaging had been claimed by anonymous killers or vigilantes.

That is a disturbing development. Although, so far, police are still validating the claims, according to PNP provincial chief Rosendo Franco.

The latest victim, the second actually, was found Friday night in Bago City. That was 12 hours after the body of Benedicto Uy, alias Intsik, was found in Barangay Bagroy, also in Bago City.

In the second case, Bago police recovered a belt bag containing a seaman’s book and a passport with the name of Glover Arak. He reportedly was from Manay, Davao Oriental. This was in Barangay Malinging, also in Bago City.

But whether the salvage victim actually was Arak or not is still not confirmed. Nobody has claimed yet the remains of the victims from a local funeral parlor.

But Superintendent Melchor Coronel, Bago police chief, said they found several gunshot wounds on the victim’s body.

Police, however, discovered that the victim was not a resident of the barangay where his remains were recovered. It now appears that Bago City has become the dumping ground of salvage victims.

Both claims are still to be validated, according to Coronel.

In the case of Uy, he reportedly was abducted in Valladolid just half-an-hour after release by the Valladolid police. He was seized and put aboard an L-300 van. Police chased the vehicle but lost it. Later, the remains of Uy were found in Bago City.

Very much earlier, a suspect in the rape slay of a 13-year-old lass in Barangay Jorge Araneta, also in Bago City, was also summarily executed. The case remains unsolved.

If vigilantes are really behind the two latest killings, then it is an alarming development. It could presage the resurgence of vigilantes. Worse, it also indicates a lack of confidence in the Philippine justice system forcing shadowy groups to engage in summary executions. Per se, an alarming situation.

In Iloilo province, meanwhile, there was an equally disturbing increase in criminality.

That’s why the question being asked among citizens of the city is – who will be next?

But Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas pointed out, however, that the most serious incident – the killing of Sen. Miriam Santiago’s aunt, Adelina Ledesma Bermejo of Kahirup Village, Jaro is an isolated incident.

But while the still unsolved case was being investigated by the police, it seems that Mayor Treñas challenged police chief Bartolomeo Tobias to prove his worth as acting Iloilo police chief.

“It is not only that police should focus only on crime prevention, but also on the arrest of the perpetrators and their solution efficiency,” stressed Treñas.

Treñas also sought the clearance from the Department of Interior and Local Government to employ police auxiliary to augment the local police force.

The gravity of the situation was seen when Treñas met with Regional Police chief Isagani Cuevas and Jaro Precinct Commander Heri Decena on the immediate resolution of the series of crimes in Iloilo City.

The still unsolved cases – the gunslaying of Iloilo Fire Marshall Casiano del Castillo, he was gunned down while walking on his way home in Jaro.

Businessman Eddie Pedrojas was also shot dead on Jaime street, Barangay Marcelo del Pilar of Jaro. Another celebrated killing was the murder of American Daniel Chan Chabra inside his Arevalo district home.

This was the reason why Treñas reiterated his call for police visibility in all areas and also asked village officials to remain vigilant to monitor the presence of suspicious characters in their respective areas.

Rojas slay

Meanwhile, government prosecutors were asking the possibility of using murder suspect Dennis Cartagena as possible state witness in the assassination of Ajy (Iloilo) Vice Mayor Ramon Rojas Jr.

Cartagena who initially denied having a hand in the killing of Rojas suddenly revealed that he was the driver of gunman Edgar Cordero. He also named Vicente Espinosa (Bulldog) as the one who masterminded the Rojas killing.

But, in his confession, Cartagena also revealed that there were four other targets, including Iloilo board member Jett Rojas.

The plan reportedly was hatched shortly after the last elections. But Rojas was just considered a priority target.

Cartagena broke his silence only after he had been brought back to Iloilo from Butuan City by a 10-man police team headed by provincial chief Ricardo de la Paz. He was made to wear a bullet proof vest.

Cartagena sought police security after Cordero was shot dead purportedly by Jose Bejade, brother of Linsey Buenavista, the latter had instructed him and Cordero to hide in Butuan City. Bajade is the brother of Buenavista’s mother.

Buenavista, incidentally, was one of the suspects in the Rojas slay case.

Cartagena was immediately presented to Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas upon his arrival in Iloilo from Butuan City.

Bajade is now the object of a police manhunt in Butuan City of Agusan del Norte.

Last Aug. 28, Bajade reportedly fetched Cartagena and Cordero to attend a party at the city proper from their hiding place in Barangay Don Francisco. They went to the party in the city proper aboard Bajade’s tricycle.

In Barangay Mahay, some killers from Bajade reportedly stopped to pee.

Cartagena said he suddenly heard a shot and saw Cordero slump. Then fled on foot.