|
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tomas thinks IBP is alluding to him as mastermind
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday described as “very pathetic” the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chap-ter’s announcement that it already has the identities of the mastermind and vigilantes behind the summary executions in the city.
He said that this early, the IBP is already playing politics.
The mayor said the “innuendos” are all directed at him, who openly criticized IBP for “siding with criminals.”
Vice Mayor Michael Rama also dared the IBP to divulge to the public the persons it said are behind the vigilante killings in Cebu City.
He said IBP, of which he is a member, should be “very circumspect” in doing so since they are dealing with a “ticklish” issue.
Police Regional Office 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr., for his part, ordered the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division to get in touch with the IBP Cebu City chapter for information on the vigilante-style killings.
The lawyers’ group, through chapter president Alex Tolentino, earlier said it knows six to eight men who are behind the series of summary executions.
In an interview over radio dyLA yesterday, Tolentino said he plans to ask the Melo Commission to include in its investigation the vigilante killings that claimed at least 168 lives since December 2004.
Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, a member of the commission created by President Arroyo, asked the IBP to file a complaint and submit the record of cases before the commission.
Zuño said, though, in a separate interview with dyLA, that the commis-sion’s task is to look into the deaths of journalists and political activists.
Tolentino said the vigilante-style killings in Cebu City can be considered extra-judicial killings, which are what the President wants solved.
Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, for his part, is wary. He wants the IBP to go elsewhere with its evidence.
“That (Melo) commission is only for show to satisfy some international human rights groups like Amnesty International. It also does not cover extra-judicial killings but only those political and media-related killings,” Barcenas told Sun.Star Cebu last night.
Barcenas, predecessor of Tolentino at the IBP Cebu City, favors the creation of a separate commission to look into the vigilante issue.
Other than having access to good intelligence, the “mercenaries and murderers” are also well-funded, he said.
“They (businessmen) may not know who the shooters are but they definitely know who the masterminds are,” Barcenas said.
However, Mayor Osmeña said that for a bunch of lawyers, IBP officials should not have resorted to “character assassination” using the media.
He felt IBP targeted him by the announcement.
“Taking into consideration that the IBP is made up of lawyers, I find it very pathetic that they would resort to destroying something or similar to smearing or character assassination,” he said.
He said he and vigilantes have one trait in common, and that is their hatred towards criminals. The IBP officials and criminals “have something in common also.”
He reminded the public that lawyers defend not just the innocent but also the guilty.
“I just want the public to know that they (lawyers) are more concerned of their income than public service,” the mayor said.
He believes the criminals were the ones who gave “information” to the lawyers.
Told that the IBP said the vigilantes are paid P50,000 for a hit, the mayor cracked a joke.
“Who would pay that kind of money? They should not say that because all the criminals might say ‘I’ll be a vigilante na lang’ because when they rob they get what, P20,000?” he said.
Osmeña said the real problem is the failure of our criminal justice system marred by case fixings and other forms of corruption.
“That’s why there is no widespread outcry against vigilantes. The IBP has a lousy record of kicking out scoundrels in their ranks,” he added. (RHM/KNR/With JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 31, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
