City council to probe Bautista remarks on killings
September 23, 2006 in Baguio City, human rights, politics
BAGUIO CITY (Sept. 19) – The city council is poised to delve into the “informal blessing” reportedly given by acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. to the rising incidents of “summary execution” of criminals in the city.
The 14-member city council tasked its committee on human rights, justice, public protection and peace and order to investigate the issue, after the committee chair, Councilor Jose M. Molintas, raised a serious concern about Bautista’s “irresponsible” remarks.
Hindi ba dapat lang?
In his weekly “Ugnayan” press briefing on Sept. 14, Mayor Bautista reportedly thanked the police for doing a “clean-up drive” to get rid of criminals even without due process. The implication is that it is all right to kill criminals “especially when they are caught in the act.”
According to reporters who covered the press briefing and raised followup questions, Bautista even told them, “Hindi ba dapat lang?” (Isn’t that what we really ought to do?)
A few minutes later, Bautista explained that laws must still be followed in dealing with criminals. He added that he will ask the police to more thoroughly investigate the said killings.
Series of killings
A series of mysterious killings have haunted this highland resort city since Sept. 9, when a dead man was found dumped along a drainage canal along Ambuklao Road within the city. The unidentified victim bore gunshot wounds.
On the night of Sept. 13, a man was shot at close range by a gunman wearing a ski-mask in front of the Piltel Baguio office. Police did not release the victim’s identity, but said that he was an umbrella hawker and a “police character.”
In a separate incident, two dead males were also found dumped in Brgy. Balatoc, Itogon town, Benguet a few kilometers from here.
Lawyers and dads chide mayor
Bautista’s remarks triggered quick reactions from several human rights lawyers and local lawmakers.
Reynaldo Cortes, head of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), said that Bautista’s remarks “reflects his immaturity.” Cortes added that the acting mayor does not respect the rule of law, and thus has no right to be in public office.
Bautista, 38, became acting mayor two weeks ago after the Dept. of Interior and Local Government slapped a double six-month suspension on elected Mayor Braulio Yaranon.
Abelardo Estrada, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for Baguio-Benguet and concurrent IBP governor for Northern Luzon, reiterated that “summary killings have no place in civilized society.”
“Justice must be dispensed with in the way the law so provides,” Estrada said, adding that no law gives police the right to kill a person no matter how criminal he is perceived to be.
Councilor Molintas, another veteran human rights lawyer and former head of the Cordillera Indigenous Peoples Legal Center (Dinteg), also slammed Bautista for his “irresponsible statements” that may encourage law enforcers “to short-cut and deny due process.”
“It is unfair for the police authorities to be implicated (by Bautista) to have been committing these (killings), because these acts are illegal,” Molintas added.
Councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia warned Bautista, now that he is mayor, to be more careful in issuing remarks that might breed disregard for due process.
Police baffled
Police said they were also baffled about the series of killings. Baguio City Police officer-in-charge Sr. Supt. Noel Manabat strongly denied the existence of a Baguio-based vigilante group or death squad.
BCPO spokesperson SPO3 Viyo Hidalgo explained that vigilante groups appear only in areas where the residents cannot trust the police in running after criminals. In the case of the BCPO, Hidalgo claimed that there is a high level of public trust.
BCPO head Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez, who is on study leave for a two-week course in Thailand, was unavailable for comment. # Ace Alegre for NORDIS
The brief statement ‘ dapat lang ‘ must have been uttered in a particular context hence it aroused such alarm and concern. Certainly, Bautista owes the Baguio people some clarification and should stand out to the reasonable citizens’ judgement. Thanks for the people of goodwill who have expressed criticsms and rang warning bells. I myself lost two young brothers in senseless violence, my husband in political assassination and more almost all other brothers. Be it dapat lang or hindi dapat, no human being has the right to take life of other human beings. Lest I be perceived as fanatical pacifist, I still insist that those who opt to do harm or inflict injury upon his or her neighbor might as well take a second to consider before pulling the trigger or stabbing with a dagger to make sure they are clear with their choices and risks. For once dead, a body is dead and no amount of grieving or money would ever bring back the dead. The economic situation of our country is violent enough. It drives many to arm themselves be it for self defense or the passion for justice. Some others are driven to points of obssession and madness for blood. Yet, many more do not loose hope and continue in prayer and in small steps forward to be servants for peace and life and refuse to be complacent or to be in complicity with further desecration of life. God is, we are not.
Looks the acting mayor Bautistia does not not know what is just and unjust and a person with this attitude and mentality acting as executive officer of the summer capital of our country does not deserve to be there.
what “bungo” did before was good the goons had a run for their lives and baguio was safe then came the political assasins those who wanted baguio to be their bread and butter and never even cared about safety of all the residents who cares about people getting magged or killed as long as the rich ad nonsense politicians are inside theirs expensive cars (people tax) they feel safe but does the locals feel safe nooo!! its about time someone had to end the long guns of goons roaming freely in and out of our jail cells … it takes a brave man like Peter Rey to give a statement as “dapat lang” as for the politicians who says he does not deserve to be mayor then why did u not run for mayor coz your affraid of your own goons might get killed to