Daily Lessons from Life 05 January 2011 - Victim Captured Gunman Who Shot Him Dead!

"Wed, Jan 05, 2011 - Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network

Assassin photographed by victim before being killed

MANILA, Philippines - He shot first, but his camera was no match for an assassin's caliber .45 pistol.

A barangay councilman's final act of taking his loved ones' picture as the New Year arrived proved invaluable to investigators when the photograph he took also "captured" the gunman taking aim at him with a handgun.

Councilman Reynaldo Dagsa of Barangay 35 in Maypajo, Caloocan City, was just outside his home right after midnight of January 1.

He was taking a picture of his wife, daughter and an elderly female relative on Tuna Street when a suspected car thief he had sent to jail appeared from behind a parked car and fired at him.

Dagsa sustained wounds on his right forearm and chest. He was rushed to nearby Martinez Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chief Inspector Cresencio Galvez, Caloocan police intelligence chief, said the suspects were known car thieves and holduppers out on bail. It is likely that they bear a grudge against Dagsa who had them arrested last year, he said.

Police officers Galvez and Santos also vouched for the victim's dedication as a barangay official. Galvez described him as "hardworking" while Santos said he was "very active" in maintaining peace and order in the barangay.

Dagsa was a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team which helps the police in "ensuring the effective prevention, control and suppression of crimes" and "efficient management of disasters and emergencies.""

A sad and tragic story. A man who is dedicated to upholding peace, laws and orders killed by some idiotic thugs!!

Lessons for me are:

1. in some countries where fire arms are readily available, it is the courageous and righteous who will uphold the laws and orders and keep the peace at great price at times!;

2. in Singapore, we are against fire arms of any sort. The penalty for being caught with one, fired or otherwise, is death sentence if I am not mistaken. Some said it was too strict. I say, if you are a law abiding and peace loving person, why is there a need to bear fire arms?;

3. in addition, the excuse for bearing fire arms will be eliminated IF everyone else in the nation are prohibited from carrying fire arms except those in laws enforcement and national defense roles.

May the dead victim rests in peace as his murderer(s), cowards!, get punish by the rules of laws in due course. May the family members live on and be strong.