VIGILANTES KILL ANEW IN PAMPANGA

SAN FERNANDO CITY -- Vigilantes targeting illegal drug traffickers gunned
down two more suspected drug pushers on Thursday night in Arayat and Candaba
towns.

Police identified the victims as Marvin Garcia, 32, married, of Barangay
Buensoseso in Arayat and Pablo "Ambo" Garcia, 29, single, of Barangay
Paralaya, in Candaba.

The killings were committed only four days after the assassination of Dennis
Opiniado, 28, in Barangay San Pablo 1st in Magalang town, who was included
in the municipality's watch list of suspected drug pushers.

Marvin even attended the wake of Opiniado before he was killed, police said.
However, Pablo was shot to death inside his house in Candaba.

There are now four such incidents in the province in only a span of 16 days,
beginning last June 17, when 10 unidentified armed men shot and killed
47-year-old Rufino Pangilinan Castro, in Barangay Pulung Gubat, also in
Candaba.

Castro is reported to be facing an illegal drug charge in court before he
was killed.

Initial investigation showed at about 10:30 p.m., Marvin was having a
drinking spree with two companions in Buensoseso, Arayat, when an
unidentified man with a short handgun, approached them and shot the victim
repeatedly.

Marvin, who sustained several gunshot wounds in different parts of the body,
died on the spot.

Similar to Opiniado's killing, the gunman fled on board a motorcycle to an
unknown direction. Recovered from the scene were six empty shells of 9MM
gun.

Police intelligence report says Garcia was engaged in drug pushing
activities.

Meanwhile, Pablo was in his house in Candaba when three unidentified armed
men barged in and opened fire, hitting him fatally in the head and different
parts of the body.

Sources said that a vigilante group or groups targeting notorious illegal
drug traffickers in the province perpetrated the killings.

Sources said that members of this group do not want to be referred to as
"Bonnet Gang" or other fancy names as they preferred to be called
vigilantes. "Ayaw na ayaw nga nilang matawag na 'Bonnet Gang' kasi
vigilantes daw talaga sila."

However, some residents in Candaba believe the incident would set as a
precaution to those who want to take and make profit with the illegal drugs.

"Magsilbi yang babala ini karing tutulak at gagamit ilegal a droga. Marakal
nala kasing anak ding a iimpluensiyan da at masisira ing kinabukasan at ing
masanting a ugnayan da ring balang pamilya," a concerned citizen here said.

Candaba police chief Senior Insp. Santiago Rodriguez stressed that they do
not tolerate the activity of the members of the vigilante group.

Nonetheless, the police chief said the incident "would serve as a deterrent
and would lessen if not eradicate the illegal drug transaction in this
town."

Rodriguez further said that the PNP would adhere to the call of President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to intensify the government's campaign against drug
pushers as the police officers here are conducting man hunt operations
against suspected drug pushers and users in this town.

Rodriguez also announced that the twenty-four police officers in this town
would undergo drug testing to become role models among the people in this
town.

He said that they are also committed to conduct information dissemination on
the implementation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug
Act of 2002.

Rodriguez is also encouraging the community to actively participate in drug
prevention activity in every barangay.

Also on Thursday afternoon, a decomposing body of a male person was
discovered in Barangay Bano, in this town.

Albayalde, together with Arayat policemen, personally proceeded to the
burial sight, in Purok 7 in Barangay Bano at about 2:15 p.m.

A decomposing body of an unidentified man was seen lying in a shallow grave,
believed to be a victim of summary execution, investigators said.

The victim was later identified as a certain Emil Pacheco through his
clothes and other personal belongings.

Pacheco was reported missing since April 24 this year.