Lawyers better than cash aid

CEBU, Philippines — Perhaps it would be better if the Cebu City government provides lawyers rather than cash aid to cops who can kill criminals during police operations.

This is the opinion of Supt. Artemio Ricabo, deputy director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), on the plan of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to give P50,000 to policemen charged in court for the kill.

Osmeña has said the money will help cops who cannot afford the huge expenses of legal proceedings. A private lawyer’s acceptance fee, for example, can reach up to P50,000.

But Ricabo said giving money may not be the best option for a long term plan.

“Pasalamat ta sa iya suporta nga mag-provide og legal aid pero, actually, adto na sa abogado gyud. Acceptance fee lang na siya. Mas nindot gani if abogado na lang gyu’y ihatag ba, at least, murag nindot paminawon,” Ricabo opined.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia shares Ricabo’s sentiments.

Garcia said he will file a resolution to request the mayor’s office to create a legal team that can assist cops.

“We can even create a special team of lawyers just to answer incidents wherein makiha ang atong police kay tungod nakapusil siya while on duty. Let’s just form a team and a pool of lawyers for that,” Garcia said.

With a legal team in place, the city can give the budget straight to the team.

“The legal team can be composed of lawyers even including City Legal lawyers provided that they work in their private capacity,” Garcia said.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte has been urging officers of law enforcement agencies to strictly follow the rules of engagement.

“President Rodrigo Duterte has been very consistent in saying that if there’s an arrest or raid, you have to use all legal means. Now, in doing such kun mapusilan ka or dunay imminent danger, then that’s the only time you have to engage,” Garcia said.

“Ang dili namo ganahan is arbitrary lang ka nga mopusil nga walay imminent danger,” he added.

Councilor Joel Garganera, meanwhile, said he does not oppose the mayor’s plan but the qualifying factor of killing a criminal should be removed.

Garganera is the chairman of city’s Police Advisory Council.

“We have to help the police with regards sa ilang mga legal problems ba kay sometimes police are reluctant to pursue especially kining mga tawhana mga dato, mga dagko, reluctant sila kay it doesn’t end there kay mangiha mana,” he said.

The other day, PRO-7 spokesperson, Supt. Reyman Tolentin, said the financial aid is not a license to kill because the police don’t kill simply to get monetary reward.

Ricabo echoes the statement.

“Dili lang pud ta mu-encourage sa atong kapulisan nga mupatay gyud. Mahitabo lang na kung endangered na gyud ila kinabuhi,” he said.

He said the police are mandated to preserve their lives and adhere to police operational procedures.

“We have to preserve our lives. Ingun ana man gyud na ato trabaho. Mas maayo pa mupatay kaysa kita ang mapatay. We have to follow rules of engagement and observe what is stated in police operational procedures, and human rights,” Ricabo said.

Osmeña decided to give the P50,000 aid following the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to reinstate police participation in his drug war.

Police-led operations have been a subject to public outrage allegedly due to lapses in police operational procedures and alleged extra-judicial killings. (FREEMAN)