Christmas Violence in the Philippines

There is no song that encapsulates the Spirit of Christmas more than Silent Night. The song has lyrics about peace and holiness and stillness because Christ has been born. In the Philippines there is no Silent Night. It's as loud as New Year's with firecrackers scaring the heck out of my dogs. Elsewhere it was a bit more violent. 

A Philippine Coast Guard chaplain on his way home after saying three midnight Masses on Christmas Eve felt dizzy and unwell. So, he pulled over to park and sleep. When he awoke at 5 a.m. "his smart watch worn on his wrist, a black tactical bag containing cash amounting to P200,000, cellular phone, personal IDs, and ATM cards were missing."

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/26/chaplain-robbed-while-resting-inside-his-car-in-pasay-city

A Philippine Coast Guard Chaplain who felt dizzy after officiating three midnight masses was robbed while resting inside his car in Pasay City on Dec. 24.

Pasay City Police chief, Col. Samuel Pabonita, identified the victim as alias “Lt. Alvin”, 37, and residing at the Coast Guard Base in Parola Delpan, Tondo, Manila.

Pabonita said the suspect was identified as alias “Joseph”, 20. He was arrested at around 7:00 p.m. at Maginhawa St., Malate, Manila on Dec. 15.

Investigation showed that victim felt dizzy while enroute to his home onboard his pickup truck and decided to park along Roxas Boulevard to rest and sleep. 

Upon waking up at 5:00 a.m. on Dec. 24, his smart watch worn on his wrist, a black tactical bag containing cash amounting to P200,000, cellular phone, personal IDs, and ATM cards were missing.

The city police said after the incident was reported, a follow up operation was conducted by reviewing the CCTV footage of the area of the incident, including Barangays 76, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 26 which led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Recovered from the him were the victim’s Huawei wristwatch, Huawei cellular phone, P5,100 which is part of the stolen cash, the suspect's black long-sleeved shirt, black and white slippers, and the bicycle used in the crime.

Thank goodness the cops recovered the bicycle used in the crime as well as the criminal's clothes. People say don't blame the victim but why did the chaplain think it was safe to sleep in his car? Did he lock his doors? Were his windows smashed? Did he think to hide his things? Why did he have P200,000 in cash!? So many unanswered questions.

In Caloocan City the solemn Misa De Gallo celebration ended in a brawl. Twice. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/23/simbang-gabi-ends-in-brawl-in-caloocan-city

Nearly 40 individuals engaged in a brawl after a celebration of the Misa De Gallo in Caloocan City last week.

Churchgoers of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish were seen walking along Bautista Avenue in Brgy. 79, Caloocan City last Thursday, Dec. 19, when a Molotov cocktail was suddenly thrown into the ground causing the crowd to panic and run.

A passerby was able to avoid the incendiary device which hit a wall.

Shortly after, other minors joined in on the riot, and objects were seen being thrown between the teen gangs.

According to village chief Ezra Cruz, this is not the first time it has happened in the barangay. 

“So, they went to church here... they tease each other and on their way home, they would meet here, and throw objects here,” he said.

One of the minors involved in the rumble said the other group wants to beat up one of their peers after mass.

“We were just attending mass and they didn’t seem to like us. What happened was they wanted to beat up one of our peers,” he said. 

“We only defended ourselves, they started it” he added.

According to the barangay, police officers, and tanods who were patrolling the area that night, the rioters waited for them to pass by before causing trouble.

After the incident, the barangay doubled its presence. 

The Northern Police District (NPD) also deployed personnel near churches in the area.

“We have police officers deployed in case of a riot or disturbance [so they can] respond immediately," NPD's Chief Public Information Officer Lt. Gladys Co said.

Last week, another riot involving minors was reported in the city after churchgoers from San Roque Cathedral gathered in Barangay 13 after a disagreement with the group. Almost 10 individuals were identified to be involved.

Molotov cocktails? Merry Christmas indeed. 

In another brawl a teenager was stabbed dead. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/25/teenager-stabbed-dead-in-christmas-eve-brawl

A 16-year-old teenager was stabbed dead and his companion was injured during a Christmas Eve youth club party brawl in Barangay District here.

Police identified the fatality as Denver Rivera.

Initial investigation disclosed that the suspect John and the victim’s companion Ericson Datinguinoo, 24, were attending the party when a heated argument erupted and resulted into a fist fight around 3 a.m.

The suspect drew a cutter knife and stabbed Datinguinoo in the back.

Rivera and friends arrived to pacify the commotion but the suspect suddenly stabbed him in the chest. 

He was taken to the Batangas Provincial Hospital here where he was declared dead. Datinguinoo was sent to the Lemery Doctor’s Medical Hospital.

The suspect fled on foot towards the direction of Taal town.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation.

Maybe 16-year-olds should not be given a place to party util 3 a.m. on Christmas Eve or any eve. 

One family had the gift of violence bought directly to them as their patriarch was shot dead in front of their eyes. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/614058/dalaguete-shooting-man-killed-in-front-of-family-on-christmas-eve

A farmer and his family from Dalaguete town, southern Cebu were patiently waiting for the clock to strike twelve on Christmas Day when two unidentified men barged in and killed the family’s patriarch. 

After witnessing her husband’s killing, the victim’s terrified wife laid his body next to her and their kids and slept until Christmas morning.   

The fatal Dalaguete shooting incident happened in Sitio Bantolayan, Brgy. Dumalan on Tuesday evening, December 24. 

However, it was only reported to local police on Wednesday morning, December 25.

The deceased victim was identified as 43-year-old Loudeseso Sanoy Amaba, a farmer and resident of the barangay.

Amaba lived in a hut in the mountain barangay with his wife and their four kids, aged 8, 6, 4, and 2. 

According to police, the victim was lying on a folding bed while his wife and children were sleeping on their bed on the night of the incident. 

One hour before Christmas Day arrived, two men with cloths covering their faces reportedly barged inside the house, startling the family awake.

The assailants, armed with an unknown caliber of firearms, allegedly shot Amaba multiple times on his head, stomach, and shoulder. He died on the spot. 

All of this was witnessed by Amaba’s wife and children, who were spared by the assailants and were left unharmed. 

After Amaba collapsed on the ground, the assailants hurriedly escaped on foot. 

Terrified for the safety of the children, the victim’s wife did not dare to go out during the night as the nearest other house was around one kilometer away. 

After managing to get the kids to sleep, the wife then took her husband’s dead body and laid it next to them while waiting for morning to come. 

At around 9:20 a.m. on the next day, the wife was able to seek help and report the Dalaguete shooting incident to local police. 

During the assessment of the crime scene, police officers recovered two pieces of empty cartridges believed to be of a .45 caliber pistol and one slug of an unknown caliber of firearm.

According to police, the victim’s wife disclosed that her husband has had arguments with some individuals in the past. 

With this information, police are investigating the names that the wife provided them in order to find a lead that could identify the suspects behind the Dalaguete shooting which resulted to Amaba’s untimely demise.

Dalaguete is a first-class municipality located approximately 90 kilometers south of Cebu City. 

These people were so scared to go out that they slept with the body next to them and waited to report the crime in the morning. 

A girl who had been out caroling accepted a ride home from two young men on their motorcycle. She ended up being raped.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/27/teenage-girl-raped-on-christmas-eve

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped on Baywalk here on Christmas Eve. 

Police Lt. Col. Amor Mio Somine, Lingayen chief of police, said that the incident happened at around 10 p.m. 

Somine said the victim was on her way home with two friends after caroling when two young men offered to drive her home on a motorcycle.

The victim was left with another friend and the suspect. 

The suspect, identified as Roniel, and the victim were left behind and instead of being transported home, she was taken to the seaside where she was raped.

The suspect received a call from a friend who said the victim was his relative. The suspect brought the victim home.

Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil of Lingayen issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the suspect to surrender.

The girl and the suspect are related but it's not clear how. 

Two people were wounded and 4 hurt in a Christmas Eve shooting in Quirino.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/24/2-dead-4-hurt-in-christmas-eve-shooting

Gunmen shot and killed two persons and wounded four others in a compound in Barangay Villa Norte here on Christmas Eve.

Police identified the fatalities as Crisel P. Cayong, 26; and Ej Rodriguez, 19.

Wounded were  Kesha, 19; June Dave, 26; Edward, 26; and Mike, 23.

The suspects were identified as Dave, assigned to the RMFB-15, PRO-Cordillera; Mark, 35; Waller, 31; Tirio, 61; Ramil, 19; Camilo, 56; Wyfred, 36; Jay- R, 38; Afran, 21, and  Tukuwhile Hudson, 23.

The suspects, except for Hudson, were apprehended onboard a getaway in Barangay Palacian, Aglipay, Quirino.

Suspects were brought to the Maddela Police Station for proper disposition and filing of appropriate cases.

Follow-up investigation is ongoing.

Is Dave a cop? It sure does seem so. 

In a final story there was no violence but the unwrapping of a gift as it were. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2018993/bones-of-salvage-victims-discovered-in-sarangani-on-christmas-day

Bones of alleged salvage victims (Filipino jargon for summary execution of accused criminals) were found buried in a lot in Sarangani province on Wednesday, Dec. 25, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

The PNP-Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it received information about a suspected burial site at Purok 5, Barangay Baluntay in Alabel town, and promptly launched an operation.

It said law enforcers conducted the verification of the report on Wednesday evening, and eventually, “several skeletal remains were recovered during the operation.”

PNP-CIDG’s Sarangani provincial officer Major Jun Fortunato later told INQUIRER.net via Viber that the human bones belonged to two individuals.

“Law enforcement personnel secured the area and began [the] exhumation with the assistance of forensic experts,” the PNP-CIDG said in a statement Friday.

“The crime scene remains under investigation, and additional updates will be provided as the case progresses,” it added.

PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III said a witness named “Dodong” “tentatively identified” one of the remains as a certain “Jomar.”

Torre added that “Jomar” was a resident of Bentung, Polomok, South Cotabato, who was reported missing for two to three months and was last seen riding a white Rouser motorcycle.

However, Torre clarified that “[t]he identification is subject to confirmation through further forensic analysis.”

Torre also said the investigation will continue to “uncover the truth and uphold the rule of law.”

What a Christmas Day discovery.

Despite all the violence the DILG has hailed the PNP for an incident-free Christmas.  

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240642

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) hailed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for a peaceful Christmas celebration.

In a statement Friday, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the PNP’s deployment of some 40,000 police officers in strategic areas resulted in zero untoward incidents on Christmas Eve.

He also supported the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in their non-declaration of suspension of offensive police operations and suspension of offensive military operations.

“As we continue to celebrate this joyful season, I urge the men and women of the PNP to continue its heightened security measures following the declaration of no holiday ceasefire by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army,” Remulla said.

He assured the public that the DILG, PNP and other law enforcement entities will remain vigilant to protect the public and communities from those who will try to disturb the peace.

“As we face the coming new year, the DILG is with you as we continue our journey toward a truly peaceful, prosperous and progressive New Philippines.”

Incident-free Christmas? What is he referring to? Clearly Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were filled with violence for some people. These are likely not the only incidents of violence that happened. Of course if you repeat a lie long enough it becomes the truth.