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Monday, August 22, 2005
Mongaya: Plebiscite: the real battle
By Anol Mongaya
FUNNY the Cebu City police could not see a pattern in the 87 killings of petty criminals by so-called vigilantes. Indeed, they could afford to look stupid and incompetent on the vigilante issue.
As I’ve said several times, the rise of vigilantism meant the police failed in curbing crime in the first place. The continued vigilante killings complicate the crime situation and further mock the police.
In the end, records show Cebu City is still crime ridden. In a report presented to the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) last week, of the recorded average 26 crimes daily in Central Visayas, 11 happened in Cebu City.
Behind the records and the media reports, however, it is accepted that the police themselves carried out the so-called vigilante crimes. Thus, when a vigilante target escapes death and manages to shoot back and hit one of his attackers, a suspended police sharpshooter suddenly disappears.
Only one thing could erase the talks about SPO1 Adonis Dumpit’s reported injury at the hands of Alemar Luna. He should show himself before media injury-free.
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While the police look the other way when it comes to vigilante killings, they are very active in pursuing smuggling cases when the law is clear that this is purely within the jurisdiction of customs-related agencies.
The police are so agitated they raised the matter before the RPOC prompting local government officials to call for an end to turf wars. They succeeded in relegating to the backseat the vigilante issue.
After the PROC meeting, Gov. Gwen Garcia reportedly asked what’s behind the police-Customs turf war. My unsolicited answer: “Way kwarta sa paggukod og vigilante. Naa kon smuggler ang target.”
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Sugbuak proponents apparently believed nobody could prevent them from having their proposals approved by Congress. Opponents to the proposals are just wasting time calling for a public hearing in Cebu. Even if there would be a hearing, still this won’t prevent proponents from pushing with the creation of three new provinces from the original Cebu province.
I think the real battle will be during the plebiscite. However, those upholding the unity of Cebu should ask congressmen allies to insure that the plebiscite would not be carried out per district.
Proponents of the new provinces had been saying that most of those opposing them are not voters of the three districts affected.
However, united Cebu advocates believe that the whole province is affected. The districts will be carved out from the whole. If the three proposals will succeed, the original Cebu province will be left with only three districts. Thus, they argue, any plebiscite on the Sugbuak proposals should include residents of all districts.
(superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
(August 22, 2005 issue)
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