By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent
BUTUAN City — A resurgent wave of vigilante-style killing in Surigao has claimed a life while critically wounder another. This, even as members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Surigao City chapter continue to boycott representing illegal drugelated cases.
In a police report, Surigao City Chief of Police Supt. Jay Baybayan identified the victims as John Paul Eludo Catarman, 31, a resident of Bernadette Village, Barangay Luna and Richard James Dagante Gabutin, 33, a resident of Purok 11, Barangay San Juan, both in Surigao City.
Authorities said Catarman died on the spot where the unidentified gunmen aboard a motorcycle shot him while his companion, Gabutin, was critically wounded. Gabutin is now recuperating in a local hospital in Surigao City.
“The suspects in the gun attack escaped from the crime scene on-board a single motorcycle. The incident took place in Purok 7, Barangay San Juan, Surigao City,” the police report reads in part.
Until now, despite orders from Justice Sec. Vitallano Aguirre to investigate the gun attacks in Surigao City, no suspects has been arrested in the killing of retired Surigao City RTC Executive Judge Victor Canoy and the shooting of City Prosecutor Manuel Navarro Tesiorna.
Meanwhile, joint Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and National Police (PNP) operatives arrested a ex-police in a buy-bust operation over the weekend.
PDEA-Caraga Regional Director Gilbert Buenafe identified the former policeman as Felvin Berjame Libor, 36, a former personnel of Police Regional Office 13.
Libor was arrested in Bagong Silang 1, Barangay Washington, Surigao City
Buenafe told Gold Star Daily that they confiscated from Libor five grams of suspected shabu worth according to Dangerous Drugs Board value P59,000, mobile phone, and P1,000-bill marked money.
In another development, PRO 13 Director Chief Supt. Rolando Felix said three drugs personalities were arrested by joint PNP and PDEA operatives in latest buy-bust operations in separate incidents and different areas in Caraga Region.
Felix identified the three drug personalities as Emar Laguitan, arrested by Butuan City Police Station 4 through implementation of Search Warrant issued by local court; and arrested in Siargao island was identified as Gerlie Dimasanca.
Dimasanca was arrested by Del Carmen Municipal Police Station in Del Carmen, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on Saturday while Medelyn Rocat alyas “Lak- Lak” was arrested by operatives from Dapa Municipal Police Station in Dapa town in Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte province Police Provincial Office nabbed by Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit.
A total of 26 sachets of suspected shabu, with estimated weight of 6.943 grams and DDB value of P82,009.00, one unit of Caliber .38 revolver, and 4 rounds of ammunition were seized from the arrested the suspects.
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