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Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Editorials: Why Muslims doubt the police claim
Muslim leaders in Cebu have questioned the police claim about two suspected bombers they killed last Thursday.
Muslims don’t believe the “perps” were Muslims.
They don’t think they planted a bomb near a mall.
They suspect the killing violated police rules of engagement and was even a rubout.
One cannot dismiss Muslims’ questions the way police and many of us shrug off allegations of militant groups.
Muslims are a sector not known for seizing any incident to embarrass the Government and its institutions.
They cooperate
The Muslims have been known to cooperate with community leaders in keeping the peace. Just a few days earlier, Muslim leaders met with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to reaffirm their pledge to watch their own ranks.
Not that the suspicions firmly rest on solid ground.
The suspects were not seen to pray at the local mosque so they could not have belonged to the Rajah Soliman group. That assumes RSG men never skip religious duty even for tactical demands.
The way the bomb was planted, “childish and sloppy,” showed they were not work of a well-funded and efficient killing unit. Perhaps, as the mayor put it, they were just practising or they did not intend to kill many people.
Marks near the wrists of the bodies indicate they were handcuffed when shot. NBI autopsy showed they were not shot at close range and were moving when shot.
The matter of forensics should tell Muslims the clash of theories about how the two men were killed can end only in the law enforcers’ favor.
Technicians of crime scene and its evidence work with and are often seen to connive with the police. Reputation of local forensics experts to take the side of truth still has to be built.
Look at how the crime-scene and forensics people were never able to present evidence that contradicts the police claim that not one of the xxx vigilante-style murders in Cebu City can be solved.
Unresolved doubts
How can Muslims ever expect their doubts to be looked into fairly by crime-scene and forensics workers who still have to learn the culture of seeking the truth instead of just protecting the police?
To whom will Muslims turn for help? Not Internal Affairs that still has to be feared and respected among law enforcers themselves.
Meantime, Muslims can return to their mosques — and pray for that time when police agencies will have fully earned their trust.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 17, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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