Dumaguete shooting incidents “alarming”

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The spate of shooting incidents in Dumaguete City, at least four this month alone, has reached “alarming level,” all victims of which were allegedly linked to criminal activities, according to Supt. James Goforth, chief of the City Police.

Goforth also admitted the potential involvement of “vigilantes” wanting to sweep the city clean of crime perpetrators, although he said the police have no substantial evidence to confirm this public perception of “vigilantes” out on the streets again in a similar scenario in the city several years back.

“Regardless of the background of a person, a criminal or not, it is still wrongful to take the law into one’s hands,” Goforth told The Freeman, adding that the way the shootings were carried out and the type of firearms used only showed the assailants were professional killers.

Last Wednesday morning, another shooting took place at Tinago Bridge going to Brgy. Canday-ong of this city where 29-year-old Crisforth Santillan Tantio was gunned down while driving his multi-cab on his way home after ferrying his children to school.

Inspector Don Richmond Conag, chief of the City Police investigation division, said Tantio’s vehicle reached the rising approach of Tinago Bridge when the assailants, riding on a motorcycle, came up from behind and shot the victim at close range.

Tantio succumbed to multiple bullet wounds and died instantly inside his multi-cab, which rolled backwards down the slope before it stopped, said Conag. No witnesses have so far surfaced to provide police with vital information to identify the attackers or determine the motive of the killing, he said.

At least 14 empty cartridges scattered on the bridge and a slug embedded in the vehicle were recovered by the police who believed that a high-powered automatic pistol, such as an Ingram or an Uzi or a KG-9 were used in killing Tantio, said Conag.

Based on the projectile of the gunshot wounds on the face and body of the victim, investigators said the perpetrators were tailing Tantio after the victim dropped off his children in school, said Conag.

Conag said the police were considering the illegal drug trade as a potential motive following reports that Tantio had a pending drug-related case in nearby Bacong town, but the Bacong Police has yet to confirm this with the Dumaguete Police.

Conag however said Tantio was not in the Dumaguete Police’s watchlist of suspected drug personalities although they are now validating reports that he was still “active” in the drug trade.

The killing of Tantio was the fourth shooting incident in the city this month of June, with all the victims allegedly linked to illegal activities. Conag said the police are now appealing for witnesses to appear and help in the investigations. (FREEMAN)