I FIRST heard of killing from a Messenger chat group. The message said, “papa of LLR Graduate gin riding in tandem... napatay gid... his name is Agapito Abastillas.”
Then a news report said a businessman included in the police drug watch list, was shot to death by two motorcycle-riding suspects in Barangay Makiling, Sagay City, Negros Occidental
The victim identified as Agapito Abastillas was DOA at the Alfredo Marañon Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Bato, Sagay City.
The police report said that a gunman approached the victim and shot him several times, in front of his helper, who was unhurt.
Benitez said Abastillas was included in the drug watch list of the Sagay City Police Station, one of the motives being looked into that triggered his death, aside from a reported manhandling incident, where he was involved.
Then in another police report, two other persons, including a businessman, also listed in the police drug watch list were also shot and killed by motorcycle riding-suspects also in Sagay City.
That dreaded three-letter word: riding-in-tandem. The angel of death.
I wonder why those in the list have to be killed. Are our lawmakers unable to put them under surveillance, collect the evidence to put them away?
Wait, they were placed under surveillance. But not for case build-ups but for rub-outs. Monitor their movements and hangouts.
Is the PNP incapable of enforcing the law? Use forensic science and other evidence gathering techniques to put them behind bars?
For that matter, what are our law enforcers doing to arrest the murderers?
Mao Zedong aptly put it, “Political power comes out of the barrel of a gun.” The killers could have come from rebel forces. But there has been no claims of their bragging rights on people they have assassinated.
No, Philippine society is fast spiraling out of control. Where suspects are deemed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Due process is being junked.
Does this indicate that the state is unable to protect itself from assassins? That our society is becoming a wild, wild west? And every family has to produce gunslingers?
This is a recipe for a failed state.
bqsanc@yahoomail.com