Police warn vs. 'gun-for-hires' taking advantage of EJK cases

Authorities have warned the public against unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the extrajudicial killings by telling their victims that they are a subject of a “kill order” and must shell out money to stop it, a television report said on Tuesday.

In a report on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, GMA’s Rida Reyes quoted PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos as saying that crime syndicates will use all styles or modus operandi to dupe the public.

“Huwag ho tayong magpadala sa mga gnayang estilo. Wala hong ‘phone tokhang.’ Kung sila ay hindi durugista, hindi nagdo-droga, wala ho silang dapat ipagkabahala,” he said in a phone interview.

This was after victim ‘Joy’ reported that she received a call from someone identifying himself as a member of a gun-for-hire stating that ‘Joy’ and her family is next on their list.

“Sinabi niya sa akin na hinire siya ng isang tao to kill me and the rest of my family. Parang nakonsensiya daw siya kaya tinawagan niya ako para makipag-negotiate na ida-drop niya yung assignment if babayaran namin siya,” the victim said.

The caller asked for P50,000 but ‘Joy’ haggled and was able to bring down the amount to P10,000.

‘Joy’ was quick to believe the caller. “Kinabahan ako talaga kasi ang taas ng number ng killings lately especially yung Oplan Tokhang na meron tayo ngayon so natatakot akong in-exploit yung ganung idea, ineexploit ‘yung fear ng mga tao na baka random killing ito or something,” she said.

She said the caller instructed her to send the money to a certain Rosbell Golobio through a money remittance center.

She later discovered that the money was withdrawn in Cagayan de Oro.

Despite sending the money, the victim’s fear did not diminish. She already filed a complaint before the police and coordinated with the remittance center which expressed readiness to help in the investigation.

“Iimbestigahan namin. As much as possible makahingi tayo ng kopya ng CCTV doon sa Cebuana, sa kinuhanan ng pera para ma-identify natin yung suspect,” SPO1 Hector Cardinalles, officer in case of Taytay police investigation section. — VVP, GMA News