EDITORIAL - Beyond the killings

The police service celebrated its 115th anniversary the other day as the Senate prepared to launch an inquiry into the spate of killings of drug suspects since President Duterte assumed power. The official toll, according to Philippine National Police officials, was 1,564 as of yesterday, with 899 attributed not to PNP members but to vigilantes.

Echoing the President, PNP officials have defended the mass killings, trotting out statistics to show that the crime rate has gone down. The homicide rate, of course, has soared and is sure to be the highest in this part of the world. Whether the victim was a drug dealer or law-abiding civilian, each killing must be probed and the perpetrator brought to justice.

Catching murderers and helping crime victims get justice are among the tasks of the police. President Duterte rose to power on an anti-crime platform, promising to significantly curb criminality and the drug menace within three to six months. During the campaign, he made no secret of his planned method of bringing peace and order. The killings have been criticized even by the United Nations, which has called for compassion as World Humanitarian Day is observed today. But the President says he is merely fulfilling his campaign promise.

Fighting criminality, however, also requires modern methods of law enforcement, which require proper training and equipment as well as forensic laboratory facilities for the police. Solving a crime does not stop at the arrest or execution of a suspect, who may be innocent. The suspect must be prosecuted, convicted, penalized and, where possible, rehabilitated. The case must stand in court, which requires arresting or raiding officers to know the legal requirements so that a defendant is not cleared on technicalities.

As important as solving crimes and neutralizing threats to society is crime prevention. This does not need to entail extrajudicial methods. The police service, which is civilian in nature, must work with communities to help prevent crimes. Community cooperation is best achieved when law-abiding people trust rather than fear the police. And effective law enforcement cannot be anchored on extrajudicial methods.