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Friday, August 04, 2006
Editorials: Unwarranted killings
Death appears to have become so cheap it practically costs nothing for anyone to die anywhere, in sidewalks, even in the victim’s front yard.
And this is not only true in Cebu City, where vigilante killings now approach the 200 mark with not a single incident solved, but also in other parts of the country.
Deadline
The daily report of unabated killings in various places of the country has focused attention on the glaring inability of law enforcement agencies of the country to check this shameful situation.
The fact that most of the victims were media people (who were vocal about misbehaving public officials involved in malfeasance) and leaders of left-leaning groups has made government itself as the suspected perpetrator.
It is probably because of this embarrassing situation that President Arroyo was forced to impose a ten-week deadline for the country’s law enforcers “to produce results on the unabated political killings.”
The presidential move was likely intended to counter suspicion of government involvement in the killings.
Suspects
In a recent survey conducted by a foundation on the “spate of political killings since 2001,” the respondents pointed to elements of the military and the police as possible suspects.
Sixty-six percent of respondents who claim they were aware of the killings believe the military and police were the perpetrators, and 92.5 percent of them feel the President should do something about it.
Not optimistic
But the President’s quick action may place the nation’s law enforcers in a bind.
While two months and a half may be enough for some agencies to produce results, coming up with a just, credible and accurate report may not be feasible within that period.
Lightning operations are likely to put in harms’ way many innocent souls.
Even Task Force Usig, created close on the heels of the President’s order, does not appear optimistic about it.
The most that the Palace could say was that it will do its best to ensure the killings will be solved.
Thus, there is not much in the President’s order that could stop the cold winds of suspicion from her political detractors and critics.
Indeed, a big number of people think the killings have become part of government policy.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 4, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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