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Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Criminals ‘hurt Cebu image more’
While he cannot yet give a “clear prognosis if it will affect Cebu City’s image or not,” Mayor Tomas Osmeña says he sees nothing to worry about in the summary killings of suspected criminals.
“As of now, I don’t think so, the airlines and hotels are still full. Even if it appeared (in the news) every day during the Ad Congress, nobody even brought it up with me,” he told a news conference yesterday.
Osmeña’s comment was sought on the business sector’s fears that the killings could hamper the city’s tourism.
“But we’re keeping our eyes and ears open. We’re monitoring the situation. It’s worse for the city’s image if there are many criminals,” the mayor added.
Osmeña said he is giving the policeman accused of killing Dave Esbra the benefit of the doubt.
Premature
Esbra, 32, was shot dead Sunday night, in what the police described as a shootout and legitimate operation. The robbery suspect’s relatives, however, said he was executed.
“It’s a little bit unfair and premature. Let the investigators find out if he (the policeman) really fired the gun. It will show in the paraffin test,” the mayor said.
The City is also willing to give legal assistance to the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (CIIB) because “if you hesitate, no policemen are willing to get involved,” Osmeña said.
There are cases, though, like that of SPO4 Juanito Pajantoy, when the City “did not even shell out P2 for Pajantoy.”
Pajantoy was accused of shooting his fellow policeman, PO3 Michael Sarcol, while they were chasing suspected snatcher Omar Patiño in 2003 in the North Reclamation Area.
Maybe
But Osmeña has raised P600,000 to help Sarcol’s family and arranged for scholarships for his children.
“Don’t think I’m favoring (certain) policemen,” he added.
Sought for a categorical answer on the public’s impression that the vigilantes are his men, the mayor blamed the media instead.
“Is that my fault? Media keep saying that,” he said. “I have to set our priorities right.”
“No, not my bata-bata. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I inspired them. I don’t know. Want me to go around and ask vigilantes if they have Bando Osmeña cards? Ambot. Statistically speaking, 60 percent, 70 percent of Cebu City is made up of our political supporters. So, what are the chances that the vigilantes are my men? High! And so are the chances that many of the criminals they killed are also my men,” Osmeña said.
Have any names of the so-called vigilantes been brought to his attention? “Your guess is as good as mine. Very clearly, (SPO1 Adonis) Dumpit is not involved. That I can assure you, because he is not here,” Osmeña said.
As to insinuations that he secretly gives allowances to vigilantes, the mayor said, “I can’t do that. I will get disallowances from COA (the Commission on Audit) and they might order me to refund the amount).”
Osmeña conceded, though, that he may have created “some sort of influence” when he urged in one of his news conferences “to hunt them (criminals) down. All of a sudden, many of them died.”
“Remember there are many, many victims of crimes and people are just tired. Almost everybody in Cebu has a friend who is a victim of crime, sometimes within the family. I also think you should consider that part of motivation behind this wave of vigilantism, because people don’t have faith in our system of government. They see criminals being released, just walking out of jail.”
As to his previous promise to shell out P20,000 for those who can “neutralize criminals,” Osmeña said he has given a reward to the captors of robbery suspects like Rey Torres and P50,000 to the informants.
“But it is very unlikely that there is profit motive, that they’re killing criminals because businessmen are giving money. I don’t go for that. That’s stretching it too far. Mora’g bounty hunter. Maybe you’ve seen too many cowboy movies.
There are people, I think, who are just frustrated,” Osmeña said. (GAC)
(November 23, 2005 issue)
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