Monday, February 19, 2007 'Indifference' ignites impunity among hired guns: CHR By Carlo P. Mallo
SOCIETY'S "indifference" to summary killings is what causes this criminal act to thrive, lawyer Alberto Sipaco, chief of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Southern Mindanao, said in last Friday's Kapehan sa PIA.
The unwillingness of witnesses to cooperate makes summary execution an even easier undertaking, he said.
There are even instances, according to Sipaco, that the people in the community are relieved that someone has been "summarily executed."
This is in line with the problem being faced by the police in solving the killings in the city, said Superintendent Restito Gatera, chief for Operations of the Davao City Police Office.
Gatera also added that the main obstacle they experience for the resolution of murder cases in the city is that the witnesses would not want to speak up.
Sipaco believes that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have already done their duties in the quest for the resolution of killings in the city and that it is the lack of witnesses or the absence of which that is lacking to complete the puzzle.
"A concerted effort of all sectors of the community is needed for the resolution of these (summary executions) cases," Sipaco said.
Moreover, Sipaco said there is a relative decrease in the reported incidents of human rights violations.
In 2005, over 30 personalities from the communist front have been tagged for violation of human rights, while 2006 attributed to only 19 personalities.
Meanwhile, complaints against the AFP and the PNP have decreased by over 50 percent in 2006 compared to 2005.
The human rights chief also admitted that the commission is not capable of investigating charges of human right violations against "illegitimate armed groups."
Unlike the AFP and PNP, the CHR is able to summon personalities for investigation.
