Friday, June 01, 2007 Seares: Dubious ‘citizen actions’ By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
HOW do you see the practice of neighbors of a crime suspect preventing cops from arresting him? Or the practice of mauling a thief caught in the act by "istambays"?
The other day in Mandaue City, friends of a suspected drug pusher ganged up on the cop who tried to collar him. A shot rang out from the cop's gun and nobody could tell who fired. The cop was wounded and the suspect fled.
Not a first incident in Cebu. Similar rescues of crime suspects by "fans" were made before, repeatedly.
As to local folks beating a thief caught "en flagrante," the scaled-down version of the US old West lynching has been going on here for so long that it hardly bothers many of us.
The suspect is saved from arrest: obstructing justice or being seditious. The caught suspect is beaten up: instant reprisal from citizens taking the law into their hands.
Why do neighbors protect the drug pusher in their midst? In Robin Hood fashion, he shares crime proceeds with neighbors.
Not altruism or being selfless. It's watching one's back, like hiring bodyguards or buying police protection. Neighbors shield their benefactor, even rushing to his defense when cops close in.
People power
Call it people power and you give it false legitimacy and dubious basis for the meddling. It can't be people power any more than busing in paid hangers-on to the canvassing site can be people's protest.
What will make police haul to jail the drug suspect's protectors or the thief's muggers? Maybe, a cop or civilian shot to death in the rescue or a suspected thief crippled or killed in the beating.
Bit that's even doubtful if that can shake up police, and public, apathy.
