Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Gunmen Kill Trader, Wife In Davao City Attack

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 29, 2008) – Unidentified gunmen killed a rice trader and his wife and injured their two children in an attack outside their house in Davao City in the southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the at least three gunmen were involved in the attack that occurred late Monday in Matina Aplaya village.

The victims, Renie and Molly Caholes, and their children had just arrived home when the gunmen, apparently waiting for them near their house, opened fire killing the couple and also wounded Renie, 12, and Reny, 16.

The gunmen fled on motorcycles after the shooting, a police investigator said.

The motive of the attack is still unknown, but police said robbery, land conflict and the involvement of the communist rebels are being investigated. The victims reportedly owned a vast track of land in Davao del Sur province, where rebels are actively operating.

Robbery incidents have risen in Davao City this year compared to only 1,088 during the first six months in 2007. Police have already recorded 1,602 cases from January to June this year, said Senior Superintendent Ramon Apolinario, chief of the local police force. (Romy Bwaga)

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