Pubdate: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 Source: People's Journal (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 People's Journal Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381 Author: Alfred Dalizon Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) EXCLUSIVE: COPS BEHIND SUMMARY EXECUTION OF CRIMINALS THE snail-paced criminal justice system in the country has prompted some police officers to act as judge and executioner of recidivist criminals. But what is more alarming are policemen executing criminals who fail to fork over weekly or monthly protection money like the four men who were found in Novaliches, Quezon City early morning Tuesday with their throats slashed. Their families are claiming they were killed by policemen for failing to pay protection money. A Philippine National Police official who spoke to the People's Journal on condition of anonymity admitted there are some elements of the PNP who specialize in "salvaging," a police term for summary execution. "But that is not being authorized by the PNP leadership. It's against the law to murder a hapless person even if he is a known criminal," he said. The official said that during his younger days, he also experienced similar extra-judicial operations involving hardened criminals, mostly rapists and bus and jeep robbers who had killed a number of their victims. "That happened during the old Constabulary days. But what is happening right now is that there are some cops who have been turning criminals into milking cows and later executing them once they failed to come across," he said. The source said that it is most likely that cops-turned vigilantes are behind the dumping of the bodies of suspected criminals in Metro Manila and other parts of the country including Davao City which is notorious for vigilante killings. Almost every day, tattooed bodies turn up in different parts of the metropolis, particularly in Quezon City and Manila. The victims were either strangled, stabbed or shot to death. In most cases, the killers left cardboards at the bodies of the victims with the words 'Huwag pamarisan, holdupper ako' (Don't imitate. I'm a holdupman) or 'Huwag pamarisan, drug pusher ako. (Don't imitate. I'm a drug pusher.) Other victims of summary executions had their bodies punctured with blunt instruments or even ice picks and their faces covered with masking tape. There were also cases of victims of "salvagings" whose bodies were chopped into pieces and thrown in different parts of a particular city to mislead investigators. "What we're seeing is a signature style among cops-turned vigilantes. This is their trademark," the official said. He explained that in most cases, vigilante groups prey on hardened criminals. "Target nila yung mga halang na ang kaluluwa at labas-balik lang ng kulungan. Eto yung mga recidivists na matatawag na talagang wala ng pag-asa pang magbago at pati kanilang pamilya ay bibiktimahin," he said. He explained that the slow criminal justice system in the country also sparks vigilante killings. "Maraming mga kaso na natutulog lang. Merong mga kilalang sila na talaga ang gumawa ng krimen pero hindi agad mahuli at maipakulong dahil sa kulang ang ebidensiya. Kaya merong mga kaso na itinutumba ang mga suspects at binibintang sa mga rebelde. It's a convenient excuse," he said. But PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Joel R. Goltiao said "salvaging" is taboo in the police force. "Summary execution is murder and has no place in a civilized society. The PNP strictly adheres to the rule of law and respect for human rights, therefore, we are among the first to condemn extreme acts of vigilantism that attempt to solve crime by committing another crime," he said. "Whoever the victims are, even if they are the most hardened criminals, they too deserve to have their day in court and their arguments heard. Only then can justice take its course," Goltiao told PJ. The families of the four men whose bodies were found on Sauyo Road charged that some lawmen were behind their murder. In an interview over TV Patrol Tuesday, the victims' kin admitted that the four were robbers and snatchers under the employ of several policemen whom they identified only through their aliases. The complainants charged that the policemen were asking at least P10,000 a week from the victims in exchange for letting them freely carry out their illegal activities.