Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Councilors question cops on killings
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU CITY -- Alarmed by and confused about the summary executions in Cebu City and the police's failure to solve them, a councilor suggested giving a large amount of reward money to whoever can lead cops to arrest the assailants.
And if reports are true that men in uniform are behind the killings, then Councilor Hilario Davide III said the policemen themselves should also be investigated.
The city's top 20 policemen attended the executive session called by the Cebu City Council Tuesday, but very few details about the murders were revealed.
Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch (CIIB) Chief Pablo Labra II told the council Tuesday that they are working to solve the killings, "but there is no substantial development on the problem yet."
Deter
Since December 22, 2004, at least 176 people have been killed vigilante style, mostly by men on motorcycles, armed with .45 pistols and with their faces covered.
Davide asked Labra about the effect of the killings on crime statistics and if he thinks these have in any way kept criminals away from the city.
"Yes, I am convinced the killings have deterred crimes but I will not encourage it because it is a crime in itself. To take the law into their own hands is also a crime," Labra told the council.
Davide raised his concern on the summary executions, which to him have already reached a critical level.
"You think it has really deterred crimes? Because personally I think nagbaws-baws ra na sila, the so-called vigilantes strike, then the next day it's the criminals. The council has already made a stand that we are against it but it has worsened. I am confused. What is going on?" he said.
"It's really getting worse. It has reached a critical stage and I think the police is helpless in solving it," Davide continued.
But Labra corrected the councilor, saying the police are not helpless and that they continue to try to solve the murders despite the lack of cooperation from witnesses and relatives of the victims.
Paperwork
Dissatisfied with the results of the policemen's reports on peace and order, Vice Mayor Micheal Rama then ended the session by giving the city's top policemen a "seatwork."
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Acting Director Melvin Gayotin, Labra and 15 chiefs of station and special units were asked to write on a piece of paper their suggestions on how the killings can be solved and who they think may have ordered the killings.
Rama hopes the policemen's answers will help the council find ways to stop the summary executions in the city.
"I don't know what that was for but I hope they can get an answer to their questions. That's what they wanted so we just complied," Gayotin told reporters after the session.
Unlike the vice mayor and the councilors, Gayotin said he is generally satisfied with the performance of the police units and stations, adding that any inefficiency will reflect on his and the station chiefs' performance.
Reward
Davide also asked Labra if the offer of a P500,000 reward would help the police solve the killings and arrest the assailants immediately.
"I think that will help, Sir. As to the time it will take us to arrest, I'm not sure but it will help us get information," Labra said.
Labra said City Hall's offer of a cash reward prompted informants to come out and lead the police to arrest robbery suspect Rey Torres last year.
Davide said he will consult the vice mayor and other councilors on the possible offer of a cash reward. At this point, he added, he is just happy that Labra agreed with his suggestion that the reward might encourage witnesses to help pin the suspects.
The CIIB chief said not all 176 vigilante-style killings remain unsolved, and that "there are a few suspects who were charged and sent to jail."
Answers
He further said that not all 176 cases are summary executions. Some are plain murder cases but because the circumstances are similar to those killed vigilante-style, the incident is blamed on the vigilantes, he said.
Invoking the Holy Spirit, Rama asked that the police be enlightened "to let the truth come out" and reveal what they know about the summary executions in their answer sheets.
"They themselves don't know how to solve the problem, so we want to know, are they one in telling a lie or the truth about it? From their answers we will know if they are serious in stopping the killings," he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Rama said he will discuss with the councilors the answers of the policemen.
The answers, he added, will guide the council in stopping the murders and in analyzing whether the police stations and CCPO are manned by competent commanders. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (November 8, 2006 issue)
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