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Thursday, December 30, 2004
Wenceslao: From the inbox
By Bong O. Wenceslao
Every time I tackle emotional issues like Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña's plan to form a Hunters' Team and the subsequent summary executions of suspected criminals, readers always react in kind. I checked my e-mail and cell phone inboxes and found some interesting views from readers, some I don't agree with but of course still respect.
One who disagreed with me agreeably on the creation of the Hunters' Team was my US-based paisano (formerly from Poro) Luciano “Jun” Rama. I always admire your column,” he said, “but on this one, I have to disagree with you. I think Mayor Osmeña has a bold plan that deserves our support.
Let’s not be too legalistic...It has been proven in the past that our democracy and freedom never got us anywhere economically.”
Jun said it well, but I would also like to point out that denying our people democracy and freedom also did not get us anywhere. Remember the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, which kicked off with the declaration of martial law? By the way, what about the old argument: “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”?
Anyway, texter Dexter Barcenas of Guadalupe, Cebu City toed the same line as Jun: “I read your column entitled ‘Back to the OK Corral.’ You articulated well your criticism of the Hunter Team.
But using old-fashioned ways in dealing with criminals is no longer effective. Criminals kill innocent people, so they should be killed too.”
Barcenas' point goes into the core of the sentiment of the majority who are now egging on the unidentified armed men (not yet the Hunters’ Team, the police said) to kill and kill. It shows their frustrations with the criminal justice system. But the fault, my dear, is not the system but the people running it—the incompetent, the corrupt, etc.
Meanwhile, Souie Mercado’s suggestion that the Hunters’ Team should also go against big-time robbers, grafters and scalawags in government, military and the police got the support of some Textreax contributors. But my comment about including in the list traders who don’t pay correct taxes and exploit their workers received mixed reactions.
An unidentified texter even told me to bring my ITR “kay akong tan-awon kun sakto ba ang imong tax declaration.” But that missed my point. What I am just stressing is that if we start killing people for the wrongs they commit, then the number of targets are endless because one can find fault in everything people—including businessmen—do.
Lastly, this one from an unidentified texter: "I am a retired detective from the US, married to a Filipina. Normally, I'm for law and order but it seems the animals are running the zoo, so I fully support the mayor. I also support putting crooked politicians, cops and military in jail, but that will never happen in this country because of corruption.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0927-4912362)
(December 30, 2004 issue)
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