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Friday, December 24, 2004
Cardinal to hunter team: Don't kill the suspects
CEBU CITY -- He is not against creating a Hunter Team, but Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal appealed to the team's sharpshooters not to execute suspected criminals and, instead, to give them their day in court.
Vidal, in a brief interview with reporters after he delivered his Christmas message, addressed his appeal to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeņa, whose plan to create a team that will "permanently disable or neutralize" criminals is gaining support.
As chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia supports Osmeņa's plan, but said everything must be done within the bounds of the law.
"A chilling message must also be sent to the culprits who want to thwart our efforts to keep peace and order, because we can't hope for development to come if we can't contain peace and order," Garcia said.
That's also the message the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) raised, as it expressed "strong support" for a special team composed of the best shooters from the police force.
"The promotion of peace and security is a vital component in our economic development initiatives, more importantly in our aim to gain five million tourists in the year 2010," the CCCI said in a press statement.
Safeguards
"Peace and order should be promoted and maintained at all times, hence, all and every legitimate effort to maintain peace and secure in the locality deserve strong backing from the citizenry," added the statement signed by Robert L. Go, CCCI president.
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 Director Alejandro Alonso clarified Thursday he is not against the creation of the Hunter Team.
"I have no objection. In fact, it is laudable," Alonso said, correcting a previous report (not in this paper) that he is against the proposal.
Alonso also expressed support for Osmeņa's plan to grant up to P20,000 cash as a reward for each police officer who apprehends a notorious criminal.
However, the need for safeguards to prevent abuse "is one angle that must be addressed by Mayor Osmeņa," he added.
If the police and local government fail to address criminality in their area, they will be held answerable under international standards of human rights, Alonso pointed out.
They must address crime, while preventing abuse of official authority.
Balance
"There should be a balance in the exercise of powers," Alonso said.
While he expressed alarm over a series of robberies, killings and other crimes in the city in recent weeks, Cardinal Vidal pointed out: "We are a democratic country, and a suspected criminal is entitled to due process."
The archbishop also appealed to the media to avoid using "death squad or vigilante group" and be careful in reporting crime stories, as these might create fear in the community.
Osmeņa, as mayor, is authorized by law to create a special police team to maintain peace and order.
Republic Act 8551 or The PNP Act provides that local chief executives have operational control and supervision over the police in their jurisdictions, said Superintendent Carmelo Valmoria, community relations chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.
Incoming PRO 7 Chief Eduardo Gador agrees with the creation of a special team to track down notorious criminals, as it will complement anti-crime efforts of the local police.
Last resort
But Gador, a Cebuano general, pointed out that the new team must operate within the bounds of the law.
Gador intends to talk to Mayor Osmeņa and local police officials about the mechanics of how this special team will operate.
"We always welcome the suggestion of the local executives. As to the details of how this team operates, I still have to talk to them. But I assume they will operate in a legal way," Gador told Sun.Star Thursday.
Gador is set to assume as new Central Visayas police director on Jan. 5.
He will replace outgoing PRO 7 Chief Rolando Garcia, who will head the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime in Camp Crame.
Since all members of the proposed Hunter Team are policemen, they are mandated to observe the PNP's rules of engagement, said Valmoria, in a separate interview.
He downplayed apprehensions that the special team might operate like a hit squad or vigilante group.
The team, he added, will focus on tracking down those behind a series of robberies in the city.
They will also arrest criminals with pending warrants.
"No, it's not like that, because we have our own rules of engagement to follow. Shooting a criminal is a last resort," he said. (JST/GC/MBG/With PR)
(December 24, 2004 issue)
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