Gullas: Criminals entitled to due process

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City mayor-elect Eduardo Gullas has rejected the idea of giving cash reward to the police for every criminal that they killed in the performance of their duty.

Gullas was reacting to the statement of the city's police chief Superintendent Germano Mallari that the cash reward will encourage the police to do more.

Mallari made the statement following the cash reward offered by Cebu City mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña to policemen and even civilians who could kill a criminal.

"Makaagni gyud na sa mga pulis basta klarohon lang nga mao gyud na ang kriminal. Pero wa ni magpasabot nga kung walay reward money dili na pud motrabaho ang mga pulis," Mallari said.

But Gullas said the idea is not good. Gullas, a veteran lawmaker and a lawyer, said every individual is entitled to due process.

He said the rule of law must be observed even in dealing with criminals.

Mallari, who will be working under Gullas, said giving cash reward will motivate the police even more to do their work better.

"Sa akong bahin okey rana ang reward mopagana na sa mga pulis. Pero kun ako lang pasultihon may reward o wala okey raman gyud kay additional nalang nang reward kay ang trabaho namo mao man gyud ang paggukod sa mga kriminal," Mallari said.

In Cebu City, every police officer who can kill a criminal will get P50,000 reward and P5,000 for every criminal wounded in encounter. The reward also applies to civilians.

In fact, even before he assumes office on June 30, Osmeña already gave P20,000 cash reward last week to Police Office 3 Julius Regis for shooting it out with two suspected robbers.

The two suspected robbers were wounded during the shootout resulting in their arrest. — /FPL (FREEMAN)