Vigilante group kills 2 more in Naga City

NAGA CITY, Philippines (Bicol Standard) - Two persons were killed by the group who calls themselves Bicol Vigilantes, the police report said Sunday.

The first victim identified as Mike Reyes was recovered last night at around 11:00 p.m. at Sitio Almeda, Pacol in Naga City.

Investigators say that he sustained one gunshot wound at the back of his body. His hands were tied and his face was wrapped with packing tape with a placard depicting "WAG TULARAN ANG MGA HOLDAPER."

The second victim was identified as Ariel Bucacao, a resident of 9th Street, Doña Clara Subdivision, Barangay Concepcion Pequeña.

Bucacao was found at around 5:00 a.m. near the entrance of Saint James Subdivision at Almeda Highway, Barangay Concepcion Grande.

His body was stabbed five times on his chest and the left side of his throat bore a slit wound, indicating that a bladed weapon was used.

Recovered from the place of the incident were one hand grenade and other personal belongings, as well as a cardboard paper on which is written “WAG TULARAN ANG MGA PUSHER - Bicol Vigilantes.”

SPO2 Toby Bongon, Naga City Police spokesman told the Bicol Standard that a thorough investigation is still underway.

“It seems that the victims were just dumped here. There was no fresh blood in the place where their bodies were found. The ropes that were used to tie the hands of the victims, as well as the packing tape used around their heads, were almost identical”, Bongon said.

Records show that this is the fourth victim claimed by the Bicol Vigilantes.

The first victim was recorded at Barangay Dayangdang. The victim was able to survive and is being treated at the Bicol Medical Center. The second victim was murdered at San Felipe, here just last week.

***

Melissa Basmayor is the editor-in-chief of the Bicol Standard, a regional partner of Philstar.com