Swift justice

Last Tuesday morning, I received an e-mail from a friend entitled, “Liham kay Lt. SG Antonio Trillanes IV.” Trillanes, as you all know, was one of the leaders of the failed military rebellion in Makati last Sunday.

The letter, written in Filipino and circulated in the e-mail a day after the failed coup, used a language of a colegiala. But on the whole, it was an expression of disgust on the futility of introducing meaningful reforms in the government.

Here is an excerpt from the letter:

”Mahal kong Lt. SG Antonio Trillanes IV,
“Magandang umaga. Nawa'y maigi ang iyong kalagayan d'yan sa stockade. Magpahinga ka muna bago ka humarap sa court martial. Hindi bale nang litisin ka, nakapag-stay sa naman sa Oakwood, samantalang kami, pinaasa mong walang pasok ngayon. KJ ka talaga.”Sinulat ko ang liham na ito para puriin ka sa iyong kagitingan na ipaalam sa buong sambayanang Pilipino ang kabulukang nangyayari sa ating gobyerno. Mabuhay ka.”Ang problema nga lang, alam na namin lahat iyon, Kapitan Trillanes.”Hindi na ninyo kailangan pang magtanim ng bomba at magpapogi sa inyong mga fatigues para lang ipaalam sa buong madla na may mga katiwalian sa gobyerno.”Hindi tuloy ako nakapanood ng Terminator 3, eh, malapit nang mawala sa sine 'yon. Okay sana kung nagbakbakan kayo ng mga sundalo ng gobyerno. Mala-The Rock saka Die Hard sana ang nangyari. Kaso, nagsisisigaw lamang kayo sa lobby ng Oakwood. Para ano pa ang inyong mga armband?”Sabagay pwede na kayong magtayo ng boutique na ang brand name ay Magdalo. Pwede kayong magtinda ng mga armbands, fatigue-inspired pants, caps at shades. Ipwesto nyo dyan sa Oakwood para strategic ang location at may sentimental value pa. Bebenta kayo, promise.”Sa launch ng inyong boutique, pwede kayong maglagay ng mga bomba sa parking lot tapos magpaparty kayo doon. Masaya di ba?”
*****

To date, five persons have been found to be victims of “salvaging” or summary execution in the city. Based on police files, these persons are supposed to be drug pushers, thieves, snatchers and “perpetrators of other crimes.”

Who could have done these killings? Is there a vigilante group in Dagupan City? These are the questions that everybody, including the police, wants to be answered.

Nobody has so far owned the killings. From what we have seen in the past, if a vigilante group did it, they would immediately issue a press statement or they will leave a “signature” on their victims. The same is true with the New People’s Army.

I just hope that this situation does not go out of hand. Supt. Noli Talino should get to the bottom of this to stop these killings. We should not condone people who are putting the law in their hands. Even is the victims are criminals and we want swift justice, killing them does not justify it.

What we are afraid of, really, is when this unknown liquidation squad grows into a monster and begins executing even innocent people.

ENDNOTES: Two weeks after typhoon Harurot dumped heavy rains in Dagupan City and flooded its low-lying areas, floodwaters have not left a stretch of the road in Barangay Tapuac, to the inconvenience of students, employees and everyday commuters. What’s wrong here? … Local Government Secretary Joey Lina was in Lingayen last Wednesday to induct into office barangays tanods from all over the province. Let’s see how he can convert it into votes when he runs for senator next year.

QUOTE: To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes