US businessman shot dead in North Cotabato

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

A 60-year-old US Army veteran has been shot dead by suspected thieves in Pikit, Cotabato.

Michael Keith was with his wife and two children when the gunmen struck as he was going about his business delivering cookies and candies to a shop.

The motorcycle riding killers struck at 2.30pm yesterday (Sunday, October 29) in Barangay Poblacion after Mr Keith pulled up in his delivery truck.

According to a report on Dxnd Radyo Bida 747 Kidapawan City, after he was gunned down, the gunmen took his sling bag, which contained about 200,000 pesos and other valuables before making their escape.

 

His wife, Melodina, and children were terrified but unharmed and were with Mr Keith when he was pronounced dead at the Cruzado Medical Clinic Hospital.

The murder of Mr Keith, who lived with his family in Pagadian City, is the second killing of a foreigner in Cotabato this week.

Last Tuesday, October 24, Pakistani money lender Ehtesham Ul Haq was shot dead while collecting payments in Barangay Dalingaoen. The attackers made off with his bag, which contained 12,000 pesos.

Superintendent Bernard Tayong, spokesman of the North Cotabato police office, said Pikit Mayor Sultan Sumulong has requested military and police reinforcements in the town in the light of the shootings.

Investigations are continuing to determine whether the two shootings were committed by the same gang.

 

So far, one suspect in the killing of Ul Haq has been arrested. Landoni Kasultan was shot and injured during a shootout with police.

Earlier this year we reported on another spate of foreigners being gunned down on the island of Biliran. In July, New Zealander Simon Rawlinson, aged 63, was gunned down by assassins. As PLN exclusively revealed, he had been embroiled in legal disputes with local government figures.

Prior to this, in June 2016, 74-year-old Henk Nuits, a Dutch businessman, was shot dead by a pillion rider. His 11-year-old son, Jake Henry, was shot in the chest but survived.

Then, in March this year, former US Marine Harvey Abrams was also shot by motorcycle-riding assassins.

So far, no arrests have been reported in any of the cases.

 

http://philippineslifestyle.com/us-army-veteran-shot-dead/

[jayjayj 571]

Seems like a dangerous part of the Philippines for foreigners.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

21 hours ago, jayjayj said:

Seems like a dangerous part of the Philippines for foreigners.

Yea I think it dangerous there, I have never been there nor do I plan to go there and I am big fan of Mindanao area but Davao City especially. But my fear is more of ABU Sayyaf

 

The guy was foolish for carrying around 200K in cash, that is 3 or 4 year salary for some working people.  He should of had a bodyguard with him. I feel sorry for him.

 

Stuff like this happens every day in Philippines. . Especially to collectors, and businesspersons.

Considering a hit man gets paid about P5000 per hit,  and a thief can make 200k in about 10 minutes.

 

 

Edited November 2, 2017 by Chris Duffy

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

Yea I think it dangerous there, I have never been there nor do I plan to go there and I am big fan of Mindanao area but Davao City especially. But my fear is more of ABU Sayyaf

 

The guy was foolish for carrying around 200K in cash, that is 3 or 4 year salary for some working people.  He should of had a bodyguard with him. I feel sorry for him.

 

Stuff like this happens every day in Philippines. . Especially to collectors, and businesspersons.

Considering a hit man gets paid about P5000 per hit,  and a thief can make 200k in about 10 minutes.

 

 

Davao City is very safe.  It is one of the safest Cities in PI.  I go there all the time.  I also love Manila.  I will avoid most of Mindanao.  You can be safe anywhere if you take precautions...then again, I live in Chicago so safe is a relative term...LOL

 

I love the Philippines and I feel as safe there as I do at home.  I am careful and there is crime but being aware of your surroundings and being a black belt doesn't hurt.

Edited November 2, 2017 by John & Rose

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

6 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

Yea I think it dangerous there, I have never been there nor do I plan to go there and I am big fan of Mindanao area but Davao City especially. But my fear is more of ABU Sayyaf

 

The guy was foolish for carrying around 200K in cash, that is 3 or 4 year salary for some working people.  He should of had a bodyguard with him. I feel sorry for him.

 

Stuff like this happens every day in Philippines. . Especially to collectors, and businesspersons.

Considering a hit man gets paid about P5000 per hit,  and a thief can make 200k in about 10 minutes.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, John & Rose said:

Davao City is very safe.  It is one of the safest Cities in PI.  I go there all the time.  I also love Manila.  I will avoid most of Mindanao.  You can be safe anywhere if you take precautions...then again, I live in Chicago so safe is a relative term...LOL

 

I love the Philippines and I feel as safe there as I do at home.  I am careful and there is crime but being aware of your surroundings and being a black belt doesn't hurt.

I love the Mindanao area and of course I stay there when we go to the Philippines because my asawa is from the Davao Region. Where we go in Mindanao it's primarily the NPA you have to worry about and not Abu. But we occasionally go to GenSan/CDO and we haven't had any problem whatsoever in those areas. 

 

I do think the guy was really dumb for carrying around that much cash no matter what because that is just asking for someone to come rob you. That much money is probably at least almost a year's salary for anyone there not to mention a low wage person that could help the family alot. 

 

I love the Philippines to and honestly I feel safer in Davao City than I do anywhere in Manila and in some places of Los Angeles. It is usually very safe there because people know if you get out line you end up in the ditch. 

 

Honestly I am lucky because of who my asawa's family is that I don't have to worry about the NPA to much. She has a very large family throughout Mindanao so she has family on both sides of the issue who generally get along with no problems. So where my wife lives at in Compostela Valley there is a large NPA presence but I have been left alone because they know her family and so I am safe for the most part. Last time we went there her nephew who is a Left Wing journalist and former NPA member came out and said "As long as you are here you are safe because of my Tita". We then preceded to have a good conversation about the USA and China all the while drinking coconut wine. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

 

I love the Mindanao area and of course I stay there when we go to the Philippines because my asawa is from the Davao Region. Where we go in Mindanao it's primarily the NPA you have to worry about and not Abu. But we occasionally go to GenSan/CDO and we haven't had any problem whatsoever in those areas. 

 

I do think the guy was really dumb for carrying around that much cash no matter what because that is just asking for someone to come rob you. That much money is probably at least almost a year's salary for anyone there not to mention a low wage person that could help the family alot. 

 

I love the Philippines to and honestly I feel safer in Davao City than I do anywhere in Manila and in some places of Los Angeles. It is usually very safe there because people know if you get out line you end up in the ditch. 

 

Honestly I am lucky because of who my asawa's family is that I don't have to worry about the NPA to much. She has a very large family throughout Mindanao so she has family on both sides of the issue who generally get along with no problems. So where my wife lives at in Compostela Valley there is a large NPA presence but I have been left alone because they know her family and so I am safe for the most part. Last time we went there her nephew who is a Left Wing journalist and former NPA member came out and said "As long as you are here you are safe because of my Tita". We then preceded to have a good conversation about the USA and China all the while drinking coconut wine. 

It's not what you know, its who you know! I always felt safe in both Davao and Manila.  We do have my future asawa remove her diamond engagement ring when we go to public markets but to me that is just common sense.  The guy carrying that much cash should be able to afford 500 pesos for a bodyguard to stay with him.  There are certainly areas in Chicago that are much more dangerous than I ever felt in the Philippines.  

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

8 minutes ago, John & Rose said:

It's not what you know, its who you know! I always felt safe in both Davao and Manila.  We do have my future asawa remove her diamond engagement ring when we go to public markets but to me that is just common sense.  The guy carrying that much cash should be able to afford 500 pesos for a bodyguard to stay with him.  There are certainly areas in Chicago that are much more dangerous than I ever felt in the Philippines.  

I totally agree with this. My wife used to wear a big really nice 2 tone gold and white gold cross at home before she immigrated here, but whenever she went out to the city she would take it off. All because it would be to easy for them to just rip the chain to steal it. 

 

If that guy had that much cash on him then yes he should have had a bodyguard maybe 2000 pesos not 500 but still worth it considering his life is at stake.

[John & Rose 7,239]

12 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

If that guy had that much cash on him then yes he should have had a bodyguard maybe 2000 pesos not 500 but still worth it considering his life is at stake.

500 to 1000 is a great full day's pay there.  I suppose 2000 is better but I would be afraid that the guy I said that much to would try to rob me!  LOL

[RO_AH 1,659]

I have never felt anything but safe when in the Philippines. That being said I am still always hyper aware of my surroundings. I am always looking to see if anyone is paying too much attention to me. I never go out without at least one Filipino friend or family with me. I never wear anything flashy or jewelry (except wedding band). I don't think I would ever get to the point that I am not cautiously protective.

 

Labor is cheap in the Philippines. Hire someone to deliver your damn cookies. If you don't trust anyone for money collection, go yourself separately and have a security/bodyguard with you. Don't get into routines when you collect money. Different days of the week, different times of day. Call me paranoid but at least I will be alive to hear it

[Greenbaum 12,259]

I never have had problems when visiting the PI. My wife is from Ozamiz City where I walk around by myself but my wife tells me I am crazy. After being away for a couple of years and reading some of these new articles I have changed my mind and will stay closer to her. Never thought my wife would be my protector but I don't usually argue with her because I have respect for her knowledge. Her brother is a bodyguard to a mayor of a larger city in Mindanao and he is always packing heat to protect himself and the mayor. Another brother is a guard at a bank and when he is at home, he brings home "bertha" who is long and mean looking. It's those side by side beety eyes that should make anyone nervous. 

 

Edited November 3, 2017 by Greenbaum

[RO_AH 1,659]

Like I said I always feel totally safe there. I guess here's why I am extra cautious. It is a 3rd word country and there are very poor and desperate people there. Desperate people may do desperate things. Their police, investigations, CSI, communications, database and data sharing technology is non-existent compared to US. People can commit these despicable crimes and quite often get away with it by simply leaving the province for a while. When others see it in the news they may decide to try it too (it doesn't help when the news reports the thieves getting large sums of money). I think these kind of crimes have dropped quite a bit with the crack down on drugs. But when you see multiple security guards walking around at all malls, major stores and banks carrying short barrel pistol grip shotguns everywhere you go in the Philippines it gives you that reminder that you should take extra precaution. 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

9 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

I never have had problems when visiting the PI. My wife is from Ozamiz City where I walk around by myself but my wife tells me I am crazy. After being away for a couple of years and reading some of these new articles I have changed my mind and will stay closer to her. Never thought my wife would be my protector but I don't usually argue with her because I have respect for her knowledge. Her brother is a bodyguard to a mayor of a larger city in Mindanao and he is always packing heat to protect himself and the mayor. Another brother is a guard at a bank and when he is at home, he brings home "bertha" who is long and mean looking. It's those side by side beety eyes that should make anyone nervous. 

 

What is the reason the Mayor has to have a bodyguard?  Did you ever ask they mayor or the bodyguard that question?

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

I find Davao much safer compared to a Cebu or a Manila.  But compared to where I live it not safe.  Life is cheap in Philippines, and with the two people getting kidnapped at Samal Island was a surprise to me.

 

They have bombing that really never make much news, like the bombing at the Bus terminal in Digos City around 2010 that killed a few,  Digos City massacre.   There was the bombing of the Davao airport,  I was there in 2013 and some bombs went off at a GMall and SM Mall, then they had the recent bombings in Davao in the market place just last year.

 

If Davao City is so safe why do so many Mayors in the region have to have armed body guards?   I don't see this in other parts of the Philippines.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

What is the reason the Mayor has to have a bodyguard?  Did you ever ask they mayor or the bodyguard that question?

Even Mayors need protection. Look what happened 6 months ago to the mayor of OZ.  Dead.

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

7 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

Even Mayors need protection. Look what happened 6 months ago to the mayor of OZ.  Dead.

What was the reason?

 

I  knew a Mayor in Davao City area. She was a lawyer one city and had a rest house in the city where she was mayor. I spent the day with here and we went to a birthday party and then went back to her office at the city hall. I asked her why she had to have armed guards with her at all times.  She told me her relative with the previous mayor and he wanted her dead so he could win back the mayor position.

 

She opened a door and showed me room full of medicine, she told me her city is allotted that for the health centers in her city, and the medicine come from PI government.   The previous mayor was selling those medicine for profit.  So she had killed his revenue stream.