Theft and drug pushing suspect Joemarie Arroyo is shot dead on Oct. 18, 2016, in Iloilo City. (Photo courtesy of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo)
ILOILO CITY — Two motorcycle-riding gunmen separately shot dead two men linked to crimes in two successive nights in Iloilo City, raising fears of a hit squad targeting crime suspects in this fast-developing but still laid-back city.
While police have not established links between the shootings in Molo District on Tuesday and La Paz District on Wednesday, the killings bore similarities.
Two armed men on board a motorcycle stopped in front of the victims and repeatedly shot their targets in a public place. They told bystanders to stay calm and not interfere as they were after only after the victims.
They left the scene calmly and police have not arrested any of the assailants.
On Tuesday evening, two motorcycle-riding assailants shot dead a known theft and illegal drug suspect in Barangay San Pedro in Molo District.
Joemarie Arroyo, 46, died of several gunshot wounds including in the head and chest after he was repeatedly shot about 9:50 p.m., said Senior Insp. Mark Cordero, Molo District police chief.
Arroyo was drinking at a store along the road when the attack happened.
The passenger of the motorcycle first alighted and shot Arroyo but his gun apparently jammed. The driver then got off the motorcycle and also shot the victim apparently to make sure he was dead.
They told bystanders to remain calm and stay away before they fled.
Arroyo had been tagged in several theft cases in the community and was facing several complaints, including one for stealing donations inside the church and belongings of parishioners in parked cars, said Cordero.
Cordero added that Arroyo was a suspected drug pusher.
On Wednesday evening, two motorcycle-riding assailants also gunned down Wensher Caravana, 20, in Barangay Gustilo in La Paz District.
The assailants stopped along a street corner where Caravana was seated with three others and repeatedly shot the victim. They told the three companions of the victim to lie face down and left.
Caravan, who had nine gunshot wounds, was brought to the Western Visayas State University Medical Center but died there.
The victim was a police asset and believed to be part of a drug group, Senior Insp. Rey Sumagaysay, La Paz police chief, said.
Sumagaysay said Caravana’s killing could be due to an intra-group squabble as the victim allegedly wanted to quit the group. But he said they have also been pursuing other angles.
There have been three killings of suspected drug pushers in 12 days in the
city.
Last Oct. 8, Carcar Hablo died of gunshot wounds after he was shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Desamparados in Jaro district.
Hablo was a brother-in-law of Barangay Captain Noeme Hablo of Desamparados.
Police believe the killing could be business or drug-related.
An Iloilo church leader deplored the killings.
“While we support the campaign against illegal drugs and criminality, killing is against (God’s commandments). If they do not believe in God, we still have the Bill of Rights in our Constitution which guarantees the right to life,” said Monsignor Meliton Oso, executive director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center.
While law enforcers might not be involved in the killings, Oso said threatening statements by President Duterte against drug suspects have encouraged the killings.
“He keeps on telling the drugs suspect: ‘I will kill you. I will kill you,’ which can be interpreted by policemen as a go-signal,” Oso said.
From July 1 to October 19, the Philippine National Police reported 35 violent deaths, which have been classified as “deaths under investigation,” excluding the three recent killings.
Of the 35, five are considered drug-related, another five “suspected” drug-related and 13 undetermined. SFM/rga