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Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Nalzaro: Rubout in Lapu-Lapu City?
By Bobby G. Nalzaro
ADMITTEDLY, I don’t know whether I should congratulate or condemn the two suspects in the brutal killing of businessman Edwin Pabia in Lapu-Lapu City Sunday night. This after I learned about the victim’s derogatory record, including his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
I think my listeners on radio and those who read me in this paper already know my stand against those involved in criminal activities, especially the illegal drug trade. For me, they deserve no mercy, as they are menace to our society. They should be eliminated before they can do more harm, especially to the youth.
Pabia allegedly committed criminal acts and was convicted of murder. He was facing drug trafficking charges. In fairness to him, he already served his sentence at the National Bilibid Prisons. Despite this, however, he reportedly did not change. An intelligence report claimed he was a Level 2 drug pusher.
Well, I am sorry for Pabia and can only sympathize with his fate. He can no longer defend himself from these serious accusations. “Dead men tell no tales,” they say. However, his family denied the allegations and said they did not really know his exact activities.
But what is intriguing in this case, if information I gathered were to be believed, is the possibility the killing was a rubout. The suspects are members of an anti-narcotics group in Lapu-Lapu. My sources said the victim, though a resident of Cebu City, expanded his activities to Lapu-Lapu, thus he was placed in the hit list of the group.
Supposedly, there are efforts to duplicate the strategy of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in dealing with drug pushers. Sunday night’s operation, however, was a bungled one. Okay na unta ang pagkatrabaho, pero morag banga ang naghimo kay nadakpan man.
****
Isn’t it ironic that before the coalition forces launched a military campaign in Iraq and even at the height of the heavy bombardment in that country, people in various countries and continents, including our own progressive and nationalist groups, staged protest rallies and demonstrations?
The rallyists criticized the US and British governments for resorting to military action even without the support of the Untied Nations. They called US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair the Hitlers of modern times and berdugos.
But now that Iraq has been liberated and Saddam Hussein’s dictatorial regime toppled, we saw how the Iraqis themselves thanked the coalition forces for what they did. When the coalition forces entered Baghdad, the Iraqis expressed happiness and jubilation.
We saw them topple a big statue of their former and now missing president.
Then they hammered the head of the statue and stomped on it as it lay on the pavement. The Iraqis even raised US flags and displayed streamers and banners expressing their appreciation to the coalition forces for liberating their country.
Now, where are the so-called human rights advocates and protectors of the oppressed Iraqi people? Will they continue their anti-war protests or join the Iraqis in welcoming their long-desired freedom?
*****
Lawyer Jane Paredes recently told me that Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. will be the keynote speaker of the joint induction of officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City and Cebu chapters on April 26, a Saturday, at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel. Jane, who is with Smart Communications, is also press relations officer of IBP Cebu chapter.
Arthur Lim, immediate past president of the national IBP, will induct the new set of officers led by Democrito C. Barcenas, Cebu City chapter president, and Manuel M. Monzon, Cebu chapter president. Successful 2002 bar examinees from Cebu law schools will be honored during the affair. The Cebu Lady Lawyers Association (Cella) and the Federacion International de Abogadas (Fida) will also induct their new members.
(Send your comments and suggestions to: Bobby@sunstar.com.ph or at bgn@cebu. gmanetwork.com. My cell phone number is 09193181404)
(April 16, 2003 issue)
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