Manhunt on vs. 11 security guards, ex-soldier in Cavite killings

Local police in Cavite launched a manhunt on Friday to track down 11 security guards and a former soldier who are allegedly involved in the killing of three men in Silang town on Wednesday night. The twelve men, including a former member of the Philippine Army identified as Oscar Alvazar, are currently being pursued by Cavite police for reportedly killing three men who they caught hunting spiders in a private lot in Silang town at 10 p.m. Wednesday, PO2 Jun Cayete of the Silang town police said.
“’Yung lugar na iyon, lagi kami nakakarinig ng putok diyan. Hindi natin masabi kung dati na nilang ginagawa ‘yan," he said in an interview aired on Friday over GMA News’ “24 Oras." (That place, we always hear gunshots from there. We can’t say if they’ve been doing that before now.) Cayete added that they will inspect the lot in the coming days due to reports that other crimes have been committed in the area in the past. Alvazar was named as one of the suspects after his wallet containing some identification was recovered from the crime scene, according to the television report. The three victims, identified as Francisco Buergo, Crispin Hubilla and Christian Salvador, were reportedly shot dead by security guards from the Dasmarinas Security Agency after they were caught inside the private lot. A fourth victim who survived, identified only as “Mark," said the security guards apprehended and started shooting them in the belief that they were trying to steal cattle from the area. The survivor said they tried to explain that they were just catching spiders inside the lot. Catching spiders for spider fights is a favorite rainy-season pastime in some rural areas of Cavite. “Pilit kaming nagmamakaawa… Pero bigla na kaming binunutan (ng baril). Parang sanay na silang pumatay ng tao," he said in the same television report. (We persistently asked for mercy. But they suddenly drew their guns on us. It's like they were so comfortable with killing people.) “Mark" added that while he played dead, the suspects dragged the other bodies one by one, which they attempted to burn. But he managed to escape. “Nung naka-timing ako, ako’y tumakbo nang tumakbo patungo sa may kasalda," he said. (When I saw my chance, I ran like mad towards the road.) “Mark" sustained gunshot wounds at the back and thighs due to the incident, and is being treated in a local hospital as of posting time.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV