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Friday, June 02, 2006
Opposition hits mayor's 'shoot to kill' order
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
With Stephen Capillas
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Even with the wave of snatching incidents in Cagayan de Oro City, Mayor Vicente Emano still has no legal basis to issue a shoot to kill order against any suspect, a staunch critic said Thursday.
Former vice mayor and opposition political lieutenant Antonio Soriano said every person should still be given his or her day in court before being gunned down.
"No local executive has a legal basis to issue any shoot to kill order. Much more, a shoot to kill order has no place in a humane society," he said.
Emano's order followed a spate of robberies that occurred in the city, including the theft of the payroll money of a security agency by unidentified armed men that resulted in the wounding of a guard.
As Councilor Reynaldo Advincula called on City Police Director Aurelio Trampe to resign, the regional police office said Thursday that the Cagayan de Oro City police would be ordered to undergo further training if they cannot reduce the incidence of robberies.
Still, Soriano said a shoot to kill order is ill advised at this time. "It is not only illegal and unconstitutional, it is a violation of the basic human rights and definitely a crime against humanity," he said.
Earlier, Emano issued a shoot to kill order against any criminal as his solution to the increasing rate of snatching, daylight hold-up, and other such similar incidents in the city.
"These criminals are again becoming very active. Almost everyday we receive reports of such crimes," he said.
Because of this, the mayor then issued an order to shoot any suspected criminal who shall resist arrest.
In the past week, there was one warehouse in Upper Macasandig that was robbed by armed men using a motorcycle.
Recently, armed men also carted off money from a security agency.
Police also reported an increase in the rate of hold-up incidents, including two that occurred in passenger jeepneys.
Even Trampe confirmed that there is indeed a rise in crime cases, particularly hold-up incidents.
But Soriano told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that a shoot-to-kill order is a violation of the person's right to due process or the "principle of being heard first before being struck down."
"Every person, regardless of race, creed, class or color, has the right to a day in court before any judgment is rendered upon him," he said.
Soriano also believes that amid this wave of crime incidents, it is "sad to note" that "local officials and local Philippine National Police have other priorities."
He said the officials are giving more focus on pushing for the people's initiative to amend the Charter and channeling resources to this end.
"Peace and security of Kagay-anons have become secondary to the so-called people's initiative," he said. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(June 2, 2006 issue)
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