Cultures of violence and corruption

The Philippine culture of death (aggravated by the culture of corruption) leads to the ultimate decay of law and justice in this exotic oriental state, resulting in the hopelessness of its poor and ignorant but patient and cheerful people in the rural and slum areas, even as their elected elitist leaders and supposed protectors in the military and the police structures shamelessly amass millions of pesos of dirty and corrupt public money while the populace wallow in hunger and disease. Read below a few articles on recent violence in the country.


Batangas vice mayor shot, bodyguard killed
(The Philippine Star) Updated August 08, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (3) View comments


BATANGAS , Philippines – Talisay town Vice Mayor Florencio Manimtim is in critical condition while one of his bodyguards was killed and another was wounded when unidentified gunmen shot them while inside the Talisay cemetery yesterday morning, police said.

Superintendent Arcadio Ronquillo, Batangas Public Information Officer, said Ma­nimtim was attending his father’s burial together with his relatives and friends at the Talisay Municipal Cemetery at Barangay Poblacion when they were shot.

Ronquillo identified the slain bodyguard as Guillermo Macaraig, 57, of Barangay Cale, Tanauan City. Wounded was Joel Caringal, 32, of Barangay Sampaloc in Talisay town, and is now being treated at the St. Andrew Hospital in Talisay.

Investigations showed that two suspects, one wearing a long sleeved polo shirt and another wearing yellow polo shirt, approached Manimtim from behind and shot him in the head around 11:30 a.m.

The local official sustained a bullet wound on his head that pierced through his face. He is now in critical condition at Mercado Hospital in Tanauan City.

Subsequently, the suspects fired at Macaraig and Caringal who were both standing near Manimtim using .45 cali­ber pistols. Macaraig died on the spot while Caringal sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

“Nobody noticed because it seemed that the shooting was simultaneous with the 21-gun salute,” one of the witnesses said.

Manimtim’s father, Florencio Sr. was a retired Philippine Air Force official and was granted full mili­tary honors during his internment.

Witnesses said the gunmen hurriedly escaped on board a motorcycle that fled toward Tanauan City.

A three-term Talisay mayor, Manimtim won the vice ma­yoralty race in the just concluded May 10, local elections against his closest rival Jerry Natanauan by merely three votes.

Natanauan filed an election protest against Manimtim, which is presently being heard at the Tanauan regionl trial court.

Police are now conducting follow up operations to arrest the assailants while trying to determine the motive of the shooting.

see:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=600644&publicationSubCategoryId=67



Ex-barangay chief slain, daughter hurt in gun attack
By Manny Galvez (The Philippine Star) Updated August 08, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0)

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines – A former barangay chairman was killed while his daughter was hurt when their motorized tricycle was waylaid by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in broad daylight near a mall here Friday.

Senior Superintendent Eliseo Cruz, police station commander, identified the former barangay official as Noel Acosta, 51, of Barangay Magsalisi, Jaen, Nueva Ecija. Acosta died from several gunshot wounds while being operated on at the Nueva Ecija Doctor’s Hospital.

His 13-year-old daughter Jodonna Neil was treated for injuries.

Cruz said the Acostas were aboard a tricycle on their way to the NE Pacific Mall along the Maharlika Highway at around 11:30 a.m. Friday when the gunmen approached them and fired shots.

The police has not yet ascertained the motive for the killing although they are not dispelling the political angle, after it was learned that the victim had announced his intention to run again for the post of barangay chairman of his place.

The driver of the tricycle, Rodrigo Bondoc of San Juan Accfa here brought the victims to the hospital where the younger Acosta is listed in stable condition.

Police recovered six empty .45 caliber shells and two deformed slugs at the crime scene.

see:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=600649&publicationSubCategoryId=67



2 soldiers die in NPA ambush
By John Unson and Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star) Updated August 08, 2010 12:00


CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao , Philippines – Two soldiers were killed while four civilians were wounded in an ambush by New People’s Army guerillas in a hinterland area in Paquibato district in Davao City, the military said.

Capt. Emmanuel Garcia, chief of the public affairs division of the 10th Infantry Division, identified the slain soldiers, who were members of lumad community in the area as Pfc. Elansio Alonsagay and Pfc. Kimpio Labawan, who died from gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies.

Garcia said tribesmen Johry Abolorio, Gloria Alarao, Aliberto Libayao and Enecencio Dangkay were wounded in the attack.

The victims were on board motorcycles to attend a traditional tribal forum at Paquibato district when they were ambushed at Sitio Marugasan in Barangay Colosas in Paquibato area, where there are NPAs.

A tribal chieftain named Datu Ruben Labawan, of the Davao Supreme Tribal Council for Peace and Development, who was with the group the NPAs ambushed, survived the attack unscathed.

The tribal datu is a relative of the slain Labawan.

Reports from the 10th ID said the more than 20 rebels that attacked Datu Labawan’s group were members of the NPA Mindanao Regional Operations Command.

The tribal leaders, all members of the DSTCPD, condemned the ambush. They are certain it was Datu Labawan who was the real target of the NPAs.

see:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=600648&publicationSubCategoryId=67