Swift justice? Body of man found with hands cut off

BACOLOD CITY—The body of a man, believed to be a suspected thief and drug user, with multiple gunshot wounds and with his hands cut off was found in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, in a case believed to be an example of the extrajudicial killings of crime suspects that could soon be the norm.

It is an image that could become common sight soon in streets nationwide following pronouncements made by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte of a brutal campaign against drug trafficking and crimes.

The dead man has been identified as Jeffrey Buencuchillo, 33. He had multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of the body. His hands had been cut off.

The body was tied when found in the village of Zone 15 in Talisay City, indications he was abducted before he was executed gangland style.

Found near where his body lay was a cardboard with a message that read “Ako usa ka Akyat Bahay, kawatan, adik. Ayaw ko ninyo sunda kay kamu na pod ang sunod patyon (I am a member of Akyat Bahay, a thief, a drug user. Don’t follow my example because you will be killed next).”

Senior Supt. William Senoron, police director of Negros Occidental, said Buencuchillo, of Victorias City, was identified by his sister.

A female witness told the police that the victim was in the company of three other men on Wednesday night at the Shopping Center in Bacolod City.

Senoron initially dismissed speculations about the existence of an anticrime “vigilante group” that could be behind the killing.

Should there be one, Senoron said he would not tolerate it.

“We are a government of laws, and not of men,” he said.