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Thursday, January 27, 2005
Speak out: Summary executions
By Valentino L. Legaspi
It is sad to note that the majority favors extra-judicial execution of criminal elements.
To those in favor, it is the necessity that counts – let human rights be damned! But a people that cannot protect the rights of their most detestable member are nothing but a bunch of animals.
Extra-judicial executions are desperate acts amid the breakdown of law and order. Yet, the failure of those charged to maintain order despite their number and resources is not a justification for one to commit crime.
Actually, many of those who approve of vigilante-style killings are the same people who are scared to testify in crimes they have witnessed.
On the other hand, if lawyers represent either the side of the victim or the criminal in a case, it is because it is their duty to do so and not because of the money from the cell phone snatched or commission received from drug lords.
A lawyer cannot offer his services. He accepts or rejects whatever comes to him. Ambulance chasing—or following an ambulance in the hope that the victim will hire him or her as counsel--is unethical.
As for Democrito Barcenas, president of the Cebu City chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), he is not opposing extra-judicial executions in behalf of a client. He carried the sentiment of Cebu City lawyers.
A chapter has a board of officers that chart the activities of the members. And while some of them may have favored the executions, still they respect the will of the majority.
Fighting human rights violations is not new to Barcenas. He was detained in 1972 for this advocacy.
(January 27, 2005 issue)
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