Victory for vigilantes?
THE pronouncement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that he will form Davao-like death squads to fight the NPA Sparrows – to which newly appointed Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin responded in an interview, seemingly going along with idea “as long as there is no abuse of power” – raises serious concerns.
The New People’s Army is at war with the Republic of the Philippines armed forces. As such it engages the military and police forces whether in the countryside or in the urban areas. When they encounter each other, there is the resulting firepower with subsequent casualties. When prisoners are taken, there seems to be no record of maltreatment of Philippine soldiers or policemen by the NPA. I am told that in missions to eliminate certain personalities, the New People’s Army conducts a hearing where the crimes of these persons against the Filipino people are aired and the decision on what action to take is made. As those being accused are not present or are represented by counsel, this is a sham court which we should condemn.
As a government and society governed by law, especially protecting the rights of the citizens, we can not follow the actuations of a subversive organization. Arrests must be made, the accused brought to court with benefit of counsel, and sentenced by an independent judiciary. Prison awaits those found guilty as we do not have the death penalty. We can not allow a “death squad” and those running them to be accuser, prosecutor, judge, and executioner. To do so is to encourage vigilantes.
We already have problems with motorcycle-riding tandems killing alleged drug pushers and corrupt officials. Do we add another group whose authority at the onset seems to be unconstitutional? If we follow the Davao police force whose “best enforcers” were reassigned to the Batasan area, the records show the biggest number of accusations of human rights violations. I fear an emerging scenario similar to before President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law nationwide when we had civilian armed groups under the control of local officials lording over the communities. The dismantling of these groups in the early period of martial law was one reason why there was general support for the New Society.
The formation of “death squads” is an admission that the armed forces and police are no match for subversive organizations. I believe this is not the case. Given support beyond the increase in compensation and providing adequate logistics including field hospitals will enhance their capability. We should be avoid giving the impression that the rule of law is constraining them in doing their jobs well. Otherwise the whole armed forces and police forces will deteriorate into mini death squads all over the archipelago.
President Mayor Duterte despite his frustrations on the pace of the changes he wants for the Filipino people should not take shortcuts that go against the rule of law. It may see that successes in some – the use of quo warranto in the removal of Chief Justice Sereno, the nullifying of the amnesty granted to Senator Trillanes, and the continued imprisonment of Senator De Lima – may be bolstering his confidence in the approaches he has taken. He has even commended the solicitor general as a “best mind” being the originator of the quo warranto and the voiding of the Trillanes amnesty with colateral advantage for the solicitor general of having the Senate hearing on the contracts won by a security group allegedly linked to him stalled, as the chairman, Senator Trillanes, is busy dealing with all the charges (the newest against his dead father).
But when the streets and countryside are littered with the victims of the death squads and civilians are caught in the crossfire, the Filipino people will demand: Leave the fighting to the armed Forces and the PNP!