Injured	Killed
0	3

Date: 25 November 2010
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20101125-305291/3-killings-in-24-hours-set-off-alarm

 

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines—A succession of killings in less than 24 hours in San Juan, Batangas, sent police there on their highest level of alert.

Town policemen are now hunting the suspects in the three killings which shook the town.

The victims in the killings were Elmer Lacdao, 36, a watchman; Noel Ate, 28, member of an anticrime watchdog; and a certain Eduardo Alday, 44.

Supt. Arcadio Ronquillo, Batangas police information officer, quoted reports as saying the first victim, Lacdao, was with friends in Barangay Sampiro when he was attacked by two gunmen past 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

On the same day past 9 p.m., Ate was shot allegedly by Severino Hidalgo, 36, brother of Joven Hidalgo, mayor of Balete town.

Ate died on the spot. His alleged attacker, Severino, fled in a brown Pajero with an undetermined license plate number.

Ronquillo said investigation showed Ate and Severino had a prior misunderstanding. Ronquillo could not elaborate.

At 1 a.m. on Wednesday, the third victim, Alday was on his way home to Barangay Buhay na Sapa when he encountered a certain Edibrando Miral and had a heated argument with Miral.

Miral pulled out a .45 cal. pistol and shot Alday, according to police. Miral fled in a blue Honda motorcycle.

Ronquillo said police have a policy of relieving a town police chief if three cases of murders involving motorcycle-riding assailants happened in his jurisdiction.

In the case of San Juan town, however, Ronquillo said the town’s police chief won’t face relief because suspects in two of the killings have been identified and are now being hunted. Marrah Erika Lesaba, Inquirer Southern Luzon