of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

Jose Doton: Tailed and shot on motorcycle
On 16 May 2006, at around 10:30am Jose Doton and his brother
Cancio were riding on their motorcycle when attacked by gunmen
on another motorcycle, who were apparently tailing the victims.
They fired at them soon after they overtook the victims’
motorcycle. When the victims’ motorcycle fell to the ground, one
of the gunmen alighted and shot Jose in the head at close range.
Cancio also suffered two gunshot wounds. The attackers
immediately left.
At the time of his death, Doton was the secretary general of
the Bayan Muna party in Pangasinan and president of Tignayan
dagiti Mannalon A Mangwayawaya.
The presidentially-appointed Melo Commission recorded the
following on Doton’s killing in its January 2007 report (page 44):
Jose C. Doton was the Secretary General of the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan Muna) and President of TIMMAWA (Tignay Ti
Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno). At about 10:30 a.m. on May 16,
2006, while the victim and his brother, Cancio Doton, were on their way
home on board a motorcycle, with the victim as backrider, two persons
wearing helmets on board a motorcycle who were apparently tailing
them fired several shots at them. The victim and his brother fell down.
Thereafter, one of the gunmen approached Jose Doton who was lying on
the ground and shot him in the head. He was rushed to a hospital but was
pronounced dead on arrival. His brother was hit at the back but managed
to survive. The incident happened on Anong Road, Sabangan River,
Brgy Camanggan, San Nicolas, Pangasinan.
A complaint for murder and frustrated murder has been filed against a
certain Joel S. Flores because: (a) the motorcycle supposedly used in the
killing is registered in his name; and (b) the .45 calibre pistol found in his
possession when subjected to a ballistic examination turned out to be the
one used in the shooting.
According to the police report, “the identities of the suspects cannot be
established as of this time since there are no witnesses who had surfaced
to give an eyewitness account of the incident and that the motives for the
killing cannot be established.” There is no report on the status of the case
filed against Joel S. Flores.
Elena Mendiola & Ricardo Balauag: “There’s somebody...”
It was past 1pm on 10 May 2006 when Elena “Baby” Mendiola,
her partner Ricardo “Ric” Balauag and two of her grandchildren
arrived in Barangay Garet, Echague. They were about to buy
mangoes and take them to Manila, but before going the couple
first went to visit members of the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka sa
Echague (United Farmers of Echague) in the village. The couple
stayed there until the evening, and decided to have dinner at
the house of farmer Ben Caculitan, together with Rudrigo Aido,
Carmelo Agcaoili and Rudy Corpuz. According to Elena’s daughter
Alena, around 7pm she received call from Elena telling her that
they would take dinner at the farm. It was the last conversation
they had.
41
VICTIMS:
1. Jose Doton (killed)
2. Cancio Doton (wounded)
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Unidentified gunmen
DATE: 16 May 2006
AHRC UA-175-2006
42
VICTIMS:
1. Elena Mendiola
2. Ricardo Balauag
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Unidentified gunmen
DATE: 10 May 2006
AHRC UA-096-2006
UP-106-2006
UP-111-2006
article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1 57