Monday, January 22, 2007 Editorial: Watching TV with closed eyes
THE problem with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), according to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., is that they just watched television.
He criticized the Rights body which announced that it will conduct a separate probe on the assault conducted by the Philippine National Police' Regional Mobile Group on the capitol of Iloilo Province.
Gonzalez insinuated that the Rights officials were not actually inside the Capitol building when the attack was made and, thus, could not have known what actually happened on the ground.
Does Gonzalez know the meaning of an investigation? The fact that the commission wanted to probe the incident proved that it wanted to know what really happened last Wednesday when a team of police troopers, in full combat gear and with high-powered weapons, barged into the building to arrest an unarmed Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Although the commission may have initially found lapses and enough reasons to investigate, not one official concluded that there was a violation of human rights.
Maybe, Gonzalez watched TV with closed eyes. Or, maybe he does not watch TV at all.
One need not be a lawyer like the justice secretary to see how terroristic had the policemen been on that day. It would not even take a college degree to conclude how brutish they became when they pushed and shove unarmed civilians to the floor. Any elementary student can tell that it was dangerous for one to be inside the capitol when the Police came breaking glass doors and aiming their weapons at just about anyone.
Gonzalez and Tupas may not be the best of friends. This is where it all boils down.
Had Tupas been a friend to the Governor and to the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, then perhaps the scenario could have ended differently. It is probable that the Office of the Ombudsman would still have some reasons to keep its investigation pending just like what it did with Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.
It would surely help Gonzalez to open his eyes when he watches TV. By then, he might be able to see the entire picture without the need of going on the ground and not just utter words that can be thrown back at him.
