Manhunt vs habal-habal killers on: CDO police

January 31, 2010

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

A manhunt operation is now being conducted by the Cagayan de Oro City police officers against the perpetrators behind the series of habal-habal killings in the city.

Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) deputy police director superintendent Antonio Montalba yesterday declared that they are now pulling on all the stops against these merciless murderers who ply around the city streets at night and preying upon for-hire motorcycle drivers.

“Para atong mapugngan gyud nato unta ug kung mahimong mapugngan na intawon kining pagluthang sa atong mga habal-habal drivers (So that we can put a stop on the slaying of our habal-habal drivers),” he said.

These habal-habal killers have been reported not just to pump multiple bullets on for-hire single motorcycle drivers, but also, stealing their motorcycles afterwards.

Witnesses claim that the perpetrators of these series of killings usually ride motorcycles with the driver and passenger-gunman sporting black jackets, a bonnet and even a bull cap pulled low over their faces.

Montalba reported that police officers are now putting up checkpoints in their respective precincts and in several major entry-exit points in the city to check specifically on motorcycle drivers and their passengers if they have the necessary documents for their vehicles.

He said they are checking on whether motorcycle drivers passing through their areas have the necessary driver’s license as well as the plate number and certificate of registration and corresponding official receipt of the motorcycle itself.

“Matag-gabii namo kini buhaton (We would be doing this every night),” this top-brass official vowed.

Just last December 2009 alone, there were four persons who were killed in Cagayan de Oro city with the same modus operandi. They include Cerilo Labora, Nerio Gamba, Mike Montes and Edgar Gabanero.

Since the opening of this year, there were already two incidents involving habal-habal drivers — Rolando Oclarit Jr. was gunned down with his motorcycle stolen last Jan. 2 and by the following day, unidentified gunmen rained bullets on motorcycle driver Bryan Nacario’s body.

Nacario survived but police officers believe that the same organization operating against motorcycle drivers were behind his shooting.

Already, Cocpo police director S/Insp. Noel Armilla had admitted that there were already several cases involving for-hire motorcycle riders or habal-habal drivers who were gunned down with their motorcycles stolen since December last year.

He vowed to look into reports that the same organization operating against motorcycle drivers are behind these series of killings.

This after his police officers pointed to the statement given by Jamel Mamalampas a.k.a Ryan Barao, a 19-year old maranao from Madalum, Lanao del Sur who was caught trying to steal a motorcycle that was laid out as bait for these carnappers.

Barao testified that he was part of an organization which steals motorcycles from Cagayan de Oro and sells them out to other areas for a much lower price than they are worth.

Written by admin · Filed Under Feature