|
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Mongaya: Only small-time targets
By Anol Mongaya
The Cebu City death squad has already killed 12 suspected criminals. And the toll is expected to increase every day. But I notice that those hit are small-time targets.
What about those involved in bank robberies? Why are those who recently robbed moneychangers and payroll money couriers spared the wrath of what is believed to be Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s group?
Or are the ones hit only those with no police connections? It seems those with the right links are merely lying low to convince the public that the police and City Hall have finally stopped the recent crime wave.
Among those who noted that the death squad is only targeting poor criminals is lawyer Democrito Barcenas. Indeed, the rich and big-time robbers, especially in government, are enjoying the fruits of their labors during the holidays without worrying about the activities of the so-called death squad.
And what about the suspected big time drug pushers who have been going in and out of jail for years? Last Christmas eve, a known drug lord in Duljo-Fatima freely gathered his men and drank the night away along one eskinita apparently confident that nobody, much less a death squad member, would dare harm him.
In a nearby barangay, another big time drug pusher got so generous he sent a lechon to a police Christmas celebration.
I am now beginning to think that the death squad caper is a deadly PR operation designed to make the powers-that-be in Cebu look like they finally provided a solution to the rise in criminal activities--at the expense of criminals who have no padrinos.
Anyway, those behind the death squad should ensure that the trigger-happy vigilantes wouldn’t hit again an innocent person, especially if it’s a child.
But I still think that cleaning up the police organization so it will uphold the rule of law and our justice system is the best deterrent against crime.
***
It’s been a long while since smugglers brought in shiploads of smuggled goods. Thus, I was surprised when I heard that the big cargo ship anchored off the South Reclamation Project yesterday was loaded with smuggled cargo.
A source said the Customs commissioner’s office earlier cleared the shipment that passed through the Port of Batangas and was declared to be starch residues. The office of Cebu Customs District Collector Billy Bibit has ordered an examination of the vessel’s actual contents. “Lagot sila if the shipment turns out to be rice,” my source said.
Earlier, I gathered that the customs collector and the commissioner had a confrontation over the list of smugglers submitted to the office of Sen. Mar Roxas weeks ago. The commissioner may now have a former military rebel as an enemy.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol_cebu@hotmail. com/ 0917-9761193)
(December 30, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
