Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jan 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Executions

EDITORIAL: INTERESTING SURVEY RESULTS

A survey conducted in the last two weeks of 2004 on problems faced by the 
city as perceived by the people showed drug-abuse on top of the list.

This menace prevails over other problems encountered by respondents - 
issues which they have to contend with on a daily basis such as high prices 
of basic prime commodities and unemployment.

The respondents were able to surface problems arising from the economic 
crisis, infrastructure (poor roads, drainage system), agriculture (support 
to farmers) and environment (garbage).

Minors involved in crime was also one of the problems cited in the survey.

Looking at the results somehow made us wonder if any of the respondents in 
the survey commissioned by the city government considered  summary 
executions something to worry about.

The statistics of persons killed by motorcycle riding gun men last year was 
quite high at 90 and most of them were said to have been involved in drugs.

One would think that drug users and traders would cringe in fear, stop 
whatever they are illegally doing or flee the city as advised repeatedly on 
TV by the mayor. But no! The killings do not seem to instill fear in the 
hearts of these men.

Instead, as the New Year's eve raid showed, while government agencies 
heightened their campaign on illegal drugs by pouring resources into 
information and rehabilitation, the drug traders had their hands full 
establishing a shabu plant in the middle of the city.

Not one of the killings have been solved. And this has been due, as 
reported by police and government officials, to the lack of witnesses. 
Also, immediately after the shabu raid, we were informed that we should 
expect killings to rise because of the infighting being waged by drug 
syndicates.

If another survey would be conducted now, it would be interesting to know 
if summary executions, 34 as of last count, will be seen as serious enough 
for respondents to call it a problem.
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