ZAMBOANGA CITY, 19 November 2006 — More than two years ago, an official in this key southern city expressed alarm over the rampant incidence of unsolved killings.
Councilor Milabel Velasquez voiced concern of the effect of the killings on the local economy as she led city officials and workers in burying at least 22 corpses, mostly victims of summary execution, which have remained unclaimed for weeks.
Last Friday, Velasquez found herself repeating her lament as she and other officials again buried 26 unclaimed corpses in a common grave.
“All we can do right now is to give the unclaimed cadavers at least a proper burial,” she told Arab News during burial ceremonies in the remote village of Talabaan, east of Zamboanga City.
Dozens of policemen, soldiers and civilians had been killed in a string of gun attacks in the city during the past months.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the killings, but authorities suspect that hired assassins and the Abu Sayyaf are largely involved.
More than 200 people had been killed in violent attacks and summary executions in the city the past years and traders continue to cower in fear, despite the heavy presence of police and soldiers in Zamboanga City, being the site of the regional headquarters of the armed forces and national police.
Two hours after the burial in Talabaan, unidentified gunmen killed a Muslim man in a daring broad daylight attack in downtown Zamboanga.
Jan Jailani was buying donuts when he was shot from behind by two motorcycle gunmen at around 2 p.m., relatives told reporters. “He was just there buying donuts and they killed him in cold blood,” one relative said.
Police said they are still investigating the killing.
