Only one group could be responsible for the spate of unresolved killings in Dumaguete City, police chief Supt. Deonardo Carlos said, citing observations his office had received.

Carlos, however, clarified, that up to press time yesterday, no group had claimed responsibility for the deaths of the 10 alleged police characters since July.

He said he has assigned a policeman to focus solely on the killings and to find evidences that could lead to the arrest of the killers.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor William Ablong described the killings in Dumaguete as "alarming," but that, despite this, the city has maintained its image as a peaceful and orderly community.

Ablong said the city Philippine National Police should not be solely blamed for the killings that claimed six lives in July and four in August.

He added that the main hindrance to solving the crimes by the PNP is the lack of cooperation from people who may have witnessed the crimes, to surface and testify.

However, he also said, witnesses could not be blamed because of fear prompted by speculations that some policemen or military men were behind the killings.

Ablong stressed that, although all the slain victims were police characters, they still had the right to live and to due process under the law.*RG

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