STOP VIGILANTE KILLINGS IN SOUTHERN MINDANAO

DAVAO CITY -- Human Rights Commissioner Dominador Calamba II dared local
government officials in certain parts of Southern Mindanao to stop vigilante
killings of suspected drug pushers and gang leaders.

"Let them stop the killings because these are counter-productive. Vigilante
killing is a crime and it mars the peace and order," he said.

Vigilante killings have again proliferated in Davao City, Davao del Norte
and Davao del Sur, with unidentified men "salvaging (summarily executing)"
even teenage leaders of street gangs.

Calamba, who hails from this city, said it is impossible for local
government officials not to know the perpetrators of these killings which
they apparently have tolerated.

"I even believe that these killers are paid to execute their missions," he
said.

Calamba urged local officials concerned to use their intelligence funds to
gather information on who could be behind the summary executions.

At least 40 minors were reported to have been victims of vigilante killings
in the region since 1999.

Calamba urged the regional police command to present the findings of a task
force that was created to look into the vigilante killings in the cities of
Davao, Digos and Tagum.

Calamba, however, admitted that it would be difficult to pin down the
perpetrators in the absence of any witnesses.