A YEAR ago — February 8 to be precise — Karen Kate Cadiente, a young mother of two, was shot dead in Valencia, Negros Oriental. She was collateral damage in the violent retribution that had her estranged husband and his lady friend as its targets. Tim Mørch of Denmark and Maila Cagas were suspects in the murder of Don Paulo Teves, brother of Valencia's mayor. Teves' lifeless body, with a bullet in the head, had been found in a dumpster on February 6. Mørch and Cagas were arrested but released again, only to be gunned down by unknown assailants. Karen was not a suspect, yet she was killed together with her husband. Was anybody charged with these murders?

While Negros Oriental is no stranger to violent crime, February last year was bloodier. Aside from Mørch, Cagas and Karen, three persons, including two bystanders, were shot dead in one attack in Bayawan City. In Guihulngan City, the NPA executed an alleged rapist. Unknown assailants shot dead a former hitman.