|
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Davao mayor to criminals: Parade or execution
DAVAO CITY -- "It's a choice between being paraded in media or ending up dead in Davao City," was Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte's reaction to a police order against parading suspected criminals.
"Mamili ka, papatayin kita or display kita? (You choose, I will kill you or I will display you)," Duterte said on how he would treat criminals.
What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers
Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) Director Jesus Versoza ordered all regional and provincial police directors to stop the practice of parading suspects in front of the media and the public.
With regards to Versoza's order, Duterte said: "It is a policy I could not question as for one, I am not a member of the PNP, and I am not bound by the PNP rules."
To make sure that no policeman gets in trouble for his stance, he said he will be the one presenting suspected criminals to the media, not the police.
Duterte added that if public interest warrants the presentation of the suspect, such as in crimes involving "budol-budol" or any other form of swindling, he would not hesitate to present the suspects to the public.
"I will show the face of the suspects, to warn the people against these criminals," Duterte said.
"It is either you behave or you go out of the city, I will have your face displayed, or I will bury you, you choose," Duterte said, addressing the criminals in the city.
The city mayor has been a known hardliner for criminal offenders, not giving any second thoughts on punishing those who have committed crimes.
Verzosa's order is in line with the observance of the suspects' human rights, in which among these is the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven in the proper courts.
Presentation of the suspects practically pronounced the suspects guilty of the crime without the benefit of a trial. This practice is a violation of the suspect's basic human and constitutional right that is to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) head Leila de Lima deplored the practice and cited it as one of the reasons that made the PNP the country's top human rights violator. (CPM/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (October 8, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Mayor's son locked up