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Saturday, November 12, 2005
Witch-hunt, mayor says on House probe of murders
CEBU CITY -- For Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, holding a congressional inquiry on the unsolved vigilante killings would simply be a "witch-hunt" and not in aid of legislation.
The mayor did not categorically say, however, that he would not show up if summoned, but does not believe the House probe is intended to discover the truth about the killings.
Osmeña even joked that local reporters would be able to ask more meaningful questions from him than members of the House committee on human rights led by Akbayan party-list Representative Etta Rosales, because "this is a local issue."
Instead of proposing a House inquiry, Representative Raul del Mar suggested to Rosales to just wait for the reports of the National Bureau of Investigation, the police, and the Cebu City Council.
"I'm not convinced yet that it's needed unless they can show and they can convince us that a congressional investigation will do something more than what is already being done," said del Mar (Cebu City, north).
Del Mar also said it was unfair of Rosales to insinuate that Osmeña is involved in the killings or is encouraging these.
As of last Thursday, the number of persons summarily executed already reached 103. Paulino Ybañez of Gil Tudtud, Mabolo, Cebu City was gunned down while walking along P. Burgos and Jereza Sts. Thursday night.
When they discuss the matter this Monday, del Mar said he would ask Rosales to clarify the statements she made against the local authorities, fearing that the other legislators would misunderstand her.
Rosales, interviewed over radio dyRF Friday morning, pointed out that those gunned down were also del Mar's constituents, in the same way that they were hers as party-list representative.
Rosales said she requested for a manifestation to conduct a congressional inquiry on the extra judicial killings in Cebu last Wednesday, but this was deferred so that representatives from the district could interpellate.
In the meantime, her manifestation was submitted to the House committees on human rights and good government.
"Nothing should stop the House probe. If we work together and if the leadership of the house believes in democracy, due process and justice, we should go on with it," Rosales said.
She also said it would be good if Osmeña could attend.
"He is the chief executive. We should invite him as a resource person to shed light (on these killings), so we can find out why the local enforcement agencies such as the police have not done anything about it, according to what was reported by the media and the IBP chapter," Rosales said.
In a separate interview, Representative Antonio Yapha (Cebu, 3rd district) said he would support Rosales' move for a House inquiry.
Interviewed by the same radio station, Yapha said he is against vigilantism because criminals still have rights.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama, meanwhile, said there is nothing wrong with a House inquiry if it is indeed intended to uphold human rights.
However, Congress should first listen to Cebu City congressmen and the Cebuanos if they are for or against vigilantism.
Rama said vigilantism would not solve the problem on criminality because as long as there is poverty there are always robbers who would prey on the populace.
The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), meanwhile, appealed to media to rectify its reports tagging Cebu City as a "murder city."
Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano, former RPOC chairman, also urged media to place crime reports in the inside pages of the newspapers and not as banners.
Department of Trade and Industry 7 Director Asteria Caberte proposed a resolution appealing to media to tone down their reporting without compromising the quality of information.
In the same RPOC meeting, Superintendent Lani-o Nerez, Police Regional Office 7 deputy director for operations, said the crime volume from January 1 to October 31 reached 11,264.
However, Nerez said the peace and order situation is "manageable."
Cebu City Councilor Procopio Fernandez also expressed his concern about Cebu City being tagged as a "murder city," because this would put off people from neighboring provinces and those from abroad to come to Cebu.
In an interview Friday, del Mar said he still condemns the killing of suspected criminals, because even criminals have the right to due process.
He has no qualms about criminals being shot in the course of a shootout where the rules of engagement are strictly followed by law enforcers.
If Rosales wants an investigation, del Mar said it does not have to be a House inquiry, because as chairperson of the committee on human rights, she can come to Cebu City and inquire from the authorities.
"I can even facilitate her meetings with the police and the council if she only wants to know what is being done," he said. (LCR/RHM/MEA/AAG/Sunnex)
(November 12, 2005 issue)
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