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Saturday, January 01, 2005
Espinoza: Happy New Year!
By Elias L. Espinoza
Rooster. According to the Chinese calendar, this is the Year of the Rooster. I hope the year ahead won’t be a difficult one, as the word “rooster” brings to mind the Tagalog saying: “Isang Kahig, Isang Tuka.”
Be that as it may, let me take this opportunity to great everyone a very Happy New Year. Cheers!
BAPTISM OF FIRE. The spate of killings of suspected criminals or persons who have criminal records by unidentified gunmen was a bitter pill for the new PRO 7 Director Eduardo Gador to swallow.
The killings were more than a baptism of fire for Gador, who is a true-blue Cebuano. It has placed him in an uncomfortable position.
While victims of crimes and the silent majority applaud the killings believed to be perpetrated by police characters, still the situation doesn’t bode well for the organization and Gador, this early in his term.
Police and Cebu City officials have already denied that the killings are the handiworks of the hunter team that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña had earlier proposed to create. He had said the team would be composed of police sharpshooters.
So that leaves vigilantes bearing the brunt of the blame. But who are these people?
They must be more than professionals, with good and strong connections since they have access to the criminal records of those persons they executed.
They may have helped, so to speak, the police in summarily keeping out those outlaws from the streets but the situation has placed the police in bad light, if not embarrassment. Here is a reaction from a friend and reader, Richard Clarke.
“The whole police force should be ashamed of the results that are happening because they cannot do their jobs professionally. The do-gooder groups will protest but so far the killing have been well researched so professionals are behind the “salvagings” may be the so called hunter team but I think from outside of Cebu. Residents in the crime prone areas would now feel safe and support the killings of known robbers.”
“This is a serious wake up call for the police and other government agencies that if they can’t do their jobs then they better resign because it’s the people who have suffered too long because of lack sustained enforcement.
Government is so good at launching this and that campaigns but after a couple of weeks it’s all forgotten and back to square one. This is what everyone finds so frustrating that these results are a breath of fresh air. It sends a clear message though that the robbers are now at risk if they carry on with their illegal activities.”
“It’s highly illegal but it’s helping the people. Just hope no one is killed because of mistaken identity but then these people I think are doing their homework and the public are giving them real tips as to who the robbers are.”
TIDBITS. In honor of the retirement of Maj. Gen. Ramon A. Ragasa, commander of the Tactical Operations Command (TOC) based at Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base on Jan. 10, the Mactan Coral Golf Club (MCGC) will hold a testimonial golf tournament on Jan. 6. As TOC commander, Ragasa is chairman of MCGC. See you there!
(January 1, 2005 issue)
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