Internal conflict eyed in spate of killings of drug personalities

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Da-vid Tumulak is asking the homicide investigators to seriously look into the series of killings in the city involving suspected drug users and pushers because of his firm belief that this could be an internal conflict among drug syndicates.

 Tumulak, chairman of the committee on peace and order  and deputy mayor on police matters, made his observation following an incident involving a resident of Minglanilla town who was shot dead in Barangay Punta Princesa the other day.

"Well kining sunod-sunod nga patay atong giawhag ang homicide police to conduct investigation kay katong nahitabo nga pusil gahapong adlawa didto sa Punta Princesa atong nasayran nga kining biktima gisundan ni siya gikan sa Minglanilla diin siya nagagikan kay dili man siya lumad taga dira," Tumulak said.

He said at least 80 percent of the killings in Cebu City involving suspected drug users and pushers could be internal conflict.

Mirasol Sauna Tancay, 35, of Sitio Bacay, Minglanilla, was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Punta Princesa last Monday. Police investigators recovered two spent shells for caliber .45 from the crime scene.

Police Officer 3 Winston Ybañez, homicide investigator, said they are initially looking at personal grudge as possible motive behind the killing.

Tumulak said he does not believe that vigilantes were responsible for the shooting incidents in which there are no indentified suspects.

Because of his belief that these shootings could be part of the intramurals among members of drug syndicates, Tumulak asked those who are involved in illegal drugs to leave the city while they can.

"Alang sad sa mga drug users nga dili mohunong sa paggamit sa illegal nga drugas, layas mo diri sa Cebu City para masiguro ang inyong kinabuhi kay karon man gud atong nakita nga nag unay-unay nalang sila," Tumulak said.

As of September 15, the data of the Philippine National Police showed that there were 166 out of 71,858 suspected drug personalities in Central Visayas have been killed. The same data also shows that 72, 886 have surrendered to the different police stations while 1, 661 were arrested. (FREEMAN)