4 dead in vigilante ambush

Four suspected criminals were shot to death inside a van shortly in an apparent ambush by a vigilante group after midnight yesterday in Quezon City.

The fatalities, described as men in their early to late twenties, were found inside a white L-300 van at about 1:45 a.m. along EDSA, about a hundred meters from Quezon Ave., Their heads were peppered with bullets.

The four were discovered inside a white L-300 van at about 1:45 a.m. along EDSA, about a hundred meters from Quezon Avenue.

Recovered from the scene were several ATM and credit cards and identification cards belonging to different persons, leading probers to believe that the men may be members of a criminal syndicate.

The group is said to be involved in robbery and kidnap-for-ransom activities. Follow-up operations are being conducted to determine their identities.

Investigators said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic enforcer Nestor Bermijo found the bodies slumped inside the parked vehicle while he was conducting a routine check of the area.

Police sources told The Star that a still unknown vigilante group probably ambushed the men while cruising EDSA for possible victims. Operatives of the Central Police District have yet to determine the caliber of the firearms used in the killing.

The four men were shot in the head to ensure a "quick and sure death."

No bullet wounds were found in other parts of their bodies.

The case is now being handled by a team led by SPO1 Fedencio Basibas and PO2 Leo Pasco.

"We have yet to know who is really responsible for the killing. Our intelligence reports are still sketchy, but we expect to have the case solved in a short time," Pasco said.