Is the long-time lawyer-mayor of Davao City really involved in “targeted assassinations” widely suspected to be the handiwork of the motorcycle-riding members of the dreaded Davao Death Squads?
Far more than a rhetorical question, the answer seems to be YES, if we are to believe the testimonial evidence and other circumstantial information gathered by human rights advocates.
Aside from it over-all report on the Philippines, US-based Human Rights Watch’s accusing finger is pointed directly at Duterte:
The words and actions of long-time Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, some of which were quoted at the start of this report, indicate his support for targeted killings of criminal suspects. Over the years, he has made numerous statements attempting to justify the killing of suspected criminals. In 2001-2002, Duterte would announce the names of “criminals” on
local television and radio—and some of those he named would later become victims of death squad killings.Duterte claims that Davao City has achieved peace and order under his rule. But with killers roaming the streets with the comfort of state-protected impunity, the city remains a very unsafe place. Available information points to an increasing number of death squad killings, including of persons such as Jaypee Larosa who appeared to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Duterte and other local officials continue to deny the existence of any death squad. But in recent years, mayors and officials of other cities have made statements attempting to justify similar killings in their own cities. Sadly, Davao City is seen by some as a model for fighting crime.
Just as disappointing, there is an almost complete lack of political will by the government at both local and national levels to address targeted killings and take action against the perpetrators. Based on consistent, detailed, and compelling accounts from families and friends of victims, eyewitnesses of targeted killings, barangay officials, journalists,community activists, and the “insiders,” Human Rights Watch has concluded that a death squad and lists of people targeted for killings exist in Davao City. We also conclude that at
least some police officers and barangay officials are either involved or complicit in death squad killings. Human Rights Watch believes that such killings continue and the perpetrators enjoy impunity largely because of the tolerance of, and in some cases, outright support from local authorities.The failure to dismantle the Davao Death Squad and other similar groups, prosecute those responsible, and bring justice to the families of victims lies not only with local authorities.
The administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has largely turned a blind eye to the killing spree in Davao City and elsewhere. The Philippine National Police have not sought to confront the problem. And the inaction of the national institutions responsible for accountability, namely the Department of Justice, the Ombudsman’s Office,and the Commission on Human Rights, has fueled widespread impunity.
http://www.humansecuritygateway.info/documents/HRW_DeathSqaudKillings_Mindanao_Philippines.pdf
For Duterte there appears to be no way to escape the accusation even as he has resigned from the Davao Task Force in charge of the peace and order situation and even gave up supervisory control of the Davao City Police Department.
Ultimately it will not just be Rodrigo Duterte in the dock but the national government itself.
Directly responsible for Duterte as his superior officer is Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, the presidential alter ego.
Will they, individually or collectively, simply act blind and deaf to the public outcry here at home and beyond our borders?
Postscript:
Zooming out from Davao, there is a larger, equally troubling picture of the country’s human rights situation:
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A true-blue Davaoeño will answer – Criminals aren’t safe in the streets of Davao. This isn’t the national government where we have to dilly dally with red tape while our children and families are left to become easy prey to criminals. Do crime and you run out of time. If you are criminal, and you want to live – stay out of Davao, pursue your life of crime in other cities.
Where’s the address of this human rights agencies and supporters?
Why? So we can send the criminals to their houses for safekeeping and they can ensure the criminal’s human rights will be safe in their own hourse. What? No takers?
A wrong cannot make things right. Vigilante Justice is popular among
crime ridden cities and municipalities. Especially if the victims have
no other recourse to Justice. It gives a false sense of peace and order
under the Rule of Fear. What if, these Vigilantes will hit the wrong
people? Will they just say:”Excuse me, we did not do it intentionally”?
The Rule of Law must be followed. Justice must be served, according
to our laws. This is the way of a righteous government.
I know where you are coming from.
However, until the Philippine government can indeed dispense “Justice” – vigilantism in Davao will be there to stay – and even, expand.
And speaking of “Rule of Law”, is there indeed “rule of law” in the Philippines?
Or is there empirical truth to the notion that “Justice” is different from the rich and poor in the Philippines. In which case, this so-called “Rule of Law” is just being mouthed to protect the rich and oppress the poor? And if it were so, as many so believe, “Rule of Law” is a myth in the Philippines.
And more issues are raised. If the Philippine justice system cannot bring high profile criminals to court why should the lower criminals be any different? Why should convictions be more prevalent among the poor? How many judges do you personally know of that are on the take?
The Philippine government is anything but righteous. Justice will be served by the community – not by an inutile government.