Is the Western Visayas now the country’s biggest cemetery?

“Never use a cannon to kill a fly.” –Confucius

With the growing list of people being murdered by ridingin-tandem suspects in the Western Visayas, particularly in Iloilo and

Negros Occidental, along with the resulting massacres from “encounters” and police raids, it appears the region is becoming the biggest cemetery in the Philippines.

The latest victims were 66-year-old socialite Mercedes ‘Gingging’ Nava and her companion, 45-year-old Erwin Fontillas, who were gunned down by unidentified killers aboard a motorcycle in broad daylight last Friday in Barangay Calajunan, located in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district. Such an incident only means one thing: A culture of impunity has now enveloped the “City of Love.”

The region’s killing spree also includes the massacre of seven suspected New People’s Army members in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and nine farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. There are also the unsolved murders of small town lottery operator Samuel Aguila, Barangay Bakhaw Captain Remia Prevendido-Gregori, former police officer Apple Alag, lawyers Rafael Atotubo and Ben Ramos, among others – nobody is safe anymore.

If the killings do no stop, we will soon be gathering the remains in one cemetery dedicated to the victims of violence and atrocity – the reputation of Police Regional Office-6 director, Police Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, is at stake.

People are hoping law enforcement finds quick resolutions to the aforementioned incidents. Authorities cannot afford to let these cases become buried, and eventually forgotten.

Given the evidence and leads, some of these cases are not difficult to crack and are merely waiting to be dug up by investigators. There are numerous resources to tap such as social media, news media, the local community, history and background of the involved parties, etc. In addition, if tipsters and sources are accurate, many of these hired killers have not even left the region and are just waiting for their next “assignment.”

Meanwhile, motives are identical to those in soap operas; jealousy, vengeance, a double-cross, hatred, envy, greed, rivalry, politics, etc.

There is no way police are unable to connect all the dots and solve one case after another.