Rex Cornelio, one of many murder victims in Negros Oriental

THE crime rate is reportedly down across the country, Central Visayas included. I was in fact just rejoicing over the apparent lull in extrajudicial killings in Cebu when local radio reported the fatal shooting of two men by riding-in-tandem gunmen in Danao City. And in Talisay City, the body of a 25-year-old man who had been shot dead was found.

In Negros Oriental, the killings never stopped. In Guihulngan City, four men were shot dead in three shooting incidents from July 21 to 24. At least 13 persons have been shot dead by unidentified killers in Guihulngan City since April. A 14th victim, Cpl. Mark Anthony Quiocson of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion, was murdered by the communist New People’s Army.