DEATH TOLL IN VIGILANTE-STYLE SLAYS NOW 125

* Two Suspected Gunmen Also Slain Last Year

ONE hundred twenty five persons have already been killed in drug-related
summary executions since November 2001, according to a top official of a
government anti-drug agency in General Santos City.

And what is alarming, the figure continues to rise.

Supt. Efren Alcuizar, chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in
Central Mindanao, told reporters all those killed were included in the
watchlist of suspected drug pushers.

He, however, quickly denied PDEA had something to do with the unabated summary
killings of suspected drug pushers in the city.

Local authorities remain groping in the dark as to the real identities of the
motorcycle-riding men responsible for such vigilante-style killings.

The latest victims were identified as Nurds Bandamlan, 24, a resident of
Alunan, Barangay Bula who was shot dead Sunday and a certain Suerto.

Bandamlan died of multiple bullet wounds when two motorcycle-riding gunmen
pumped bullets into the back of his head.

Police claimed the victim was involved in illegal drug trade and was, in fact,
included in their drug watch list.

The following day, armed men believed to be members of an anti-drug vigilante
group shot dead Suerto along Devera Street in Barangay Lagao.

Police said the suspects left a note on his chest indicating the victim was a
member of an "akyat-bahay" (porch climbers) gang.

But sources from PDEA said Suerto was also in their drug watch list.

A suspected gunman was, however, also killed by a Marine soldier after they
shot dead a member of City Hall's security unit sometime in May last year.

One of the gunmen, who was captured and later killed while reportedly trying to
escape from the police, claimed they were paid to assassinate suspected drug
pushers in the city.

Both suspects are residents of Davao City.

Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr., however, denied the existence of an anti-drug
vigilante group in the city.

The mayor believed the killings could be due to the failure of suspected drug
pushers to remit the proceeds of their drug deliveries.

Residents here, however, believe the vigilante group preying on suspected drug
pushers and users here is the city's version of Davao's notorious death squad.