Pubdate: Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991
Note:  also listed for feedback
Author: Aurea A. Gerundio
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Davao+Death+Squad
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

WENDEL DOWNPLAYS US REPORT ON 'VIGILANTE'
KILLINGS

DAVAO City Administrator Wendel E. Avisado downplayed Wednesday a
report released by the US Department of State citing summary killings
here and Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte's alleged links with shadowy
vigilante group Davao Death Squad.

The report was released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor last February 28, 2005, and it delved on, among others, human
rights practices in Davao City.

"Whatever they think, so be it. But as far as the mayor is concerned,
he's doing his job for the people," Avisado said.

Avisado said the mayor couldn't force on everybody what he or she
should and should not believe.

"If his actions are not wholesome to others, so be it," Avisado
said.

Avisado said the responsibility of the mayor is for the people of
Davao City.

"That is his oath of office. As what he has promised to the citizens
of Davao City, he will do everything humanly possible to avoid if not
stop violence at all cost," Avisado said.

Earlier reports showed the US report stated the Philippine government
"generally respected the human rights of its citizens" but added there
were "serious problems in some areas".

"Summary killings by vigilante groups continued to rise in Davao City,
Mindanao, where the mayor was alleged to be linked to the vigilantes.

Most of the victims were suspected of involvement in illegal drug
trade or other criminal activities.

According to Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, 67 suspected
criminals were killed in Davao between January and August, though it
is unclear how many of these deaths may be the result of common crime,
as opposed to vigilante-style slayings.

No witnesses have come forth to testify in any of these killings," the
US report stated.

It said some elements of the security services were responsible for
arbitrary, unlawful, and, in some cases, extra judicial killings,
disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention.

"Police and local government leaders at times appeared to sanction
extra judicial killings and vigilantism as expedient means of fighting
crime and terrorism," it added.

Father Amado Picardal, council leader of the Coalition Against Summary
Executions (Case), had already bared impression that there is a
"conspiracy of silence in the city" with regards to the unsolved
killings of suspected criminals.

"It is my impression that the police know kung kinsa ang nagapamatay
sa mga suspetsadong kriminal (who are killing those suspected
criminals). In several instances, naa'y mga bag-ong gawas sa prisohan
nga barilon dayon (there are those who are gunned down after they came
out from prison). How would the perpetrator know what time their
target will be released from prison?" Picardal said.

Davao City Police Office Director Conrado E. Laza, however, denied
this accusation.

Laza denied that such a conspiracy exists between his office and the
vigilante group.

He said information on the impending release of detainees inside
police precincts is not exclusive to the police authorities alone.

"It's too presumptuous to say that cops are in cahoots with the
killers. The court as well as other people may also have information
on the release of detainees," Laza said. 
- ---