Monday, March 10, 2008 Nalzaro: Balance of terror By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
IT HAS been awhile since I discussed vigilantism in this column in deference to the pro-life stand of this paper. Years ago, at the height of the vigilantes’ operation where more than a 100 notorious criminal elements were killed, I was criticized by some sectors, especially the human rights group, some personalities in the legal profession and church leaders, for my pro-vigilante stand.
In fact, some quarters even suspected me of having connections with the group because whenever I mentioned in my radio broadcast areas where criminals usually struck, one of them would bite the bullet the next day. There were even cases where I was the first to identify the victim that was dumped in a secluded area before our homicide investigators.
No, I am not connected to the group. I don’t know who they are. Maybe they were just listening to my radio broadcast because I collated some facts regarding places where criminality was rampant and the identities of some notorious criminals. That information also came from concerned radio listeners.
Yes, vigilantes did not eliminate criminality. But for sure it reduced the volume of crimes committed in the city. They group stirred the underworld organization, forcing some of them to flee while others decided to reform. Those who were placed behind bars and were about to be released after serving time were afraid of getting out. They said it was safer inside. At least there were no vigilantes there. It somehow created a psychological effect among criminals.
If those 100 plus criminals killed by vigilantes were still alive today, imagine how many people they would have victimized. Criminals nowadays don’t hesitate to kill their victims if they resist. And they commit crimes everywhere and any time of the day.
I don’t know the Ruby Jade Ruba, the Cebu Doctors’ University nursing student, who was robbed and killed last week. But when I heard the news about her brutal killing from the hands of those merciless killers, I got angry. Daw gikumot ang akong kasing-kasing sa kalooy ug sa samang higayon nagpangagot ang akong mga ngipon sa kalagot. That news practically destroyed my day and I asked myself, why should it happen to her? I grieved for her untimely death.
Ruby’s senseless killing has again awakened my nerves and I am almost tempted to call on the vigilantes to resume their operation so they could go after these criminals who continue to prey on the public.
The police are helpless in fighting criminality without the support of the community.
In the five pillars of the criminal justice system, the community and law enforcement are in the frontlines. One is not effective without the cooperation of the other. But sometimes we can understand the public’s apathy to report a crime. They are hesitant for fear of reprisal. People only get the courage to come out as witness if the victim is a relative.
If criminality goes unabated, time will come that these criminals will terrorize us. If that happens, who will dare visit and invest here if the peace and order situation is that bad? Criminals deserve no mercy. We better eliminate them first before they can victimize us and our family. Let them feel the balance of terror.
