Community against violence
The gunmen-for-hire’s violence eventually caught up with them, I heard the radio announcer say with a hint of excitement in his voice. This was on news that Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, Councilman Jessielou Cadungog had just survived an attempt on his life yesterday morning.
One of the alleged gunmen, reportedly a policeman with a rank of Police Officer 2, was shot dead by Cadungog’s bodyguard. Another attacker was reportedly cornered and has been turned over to the custody of police.
I cannot blame the public for hailing the alleged attackers’ demise. The series of brazen killings in Metro Cebu has worn down the patience of Cebuanos.
Last Friday, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency assistant operations officer Earl Rallos succumbed to a point-blank shot to the head. It was fired by one of the gunmen who along with his companions did not bother to cover his face in broad daylight. Investigators recovered 15 empty shells from the crime scene which was on a busy road near the Capitol.
On Tuesday last week, the body of 16-year-old Jamie Mata was found dumped in a grassy lot in Barangay San Roque, Liloan. On the same day, police also discovered the body of her boyfriend Stephen del Corro some distance away from where Mata’s body was found. Another body was found in Mandaue City in what police dubbed as a series of drug-related killings and which revived the word “salvaged” in Cebu’s headlines.
In Talisay City the other week, a young barangay councilman was shot execution style while driving along the busy Cebu South Coastal Road. On the same day, three inmates were killed under an incredible story of an ambush, while being transported by their jail guards to the courthouse. None of the guards were harmed.
It seems like we’re not yet seeing the end of these killings. Because no matter how hard authorities work at trying to get these murders solved, without community support, gang and drug-related killings will always remain a daunting task to solve. It does not help that there prevails an atmosphere of state-inspired killings (many say state-sponsored) in the name of fighting crime and in the war against drugs.
By community support, I do not mean the community arming themselves or maintaining militias to fight toe-to-toe with criminals; or a community hailing the killing of assailants and other criminals.
Community support means a broader grassroots initiative coming from our political leaders, civil society and citizens that will address the drivers of violence in our community.
Better education and early childhood intervention, for example, are just one of the many effective ways of curbing violence in the long-term. Many studies have supported the role of education as a foundation of a civilized society. Good education helps develop a person’s personality, “sound in mind and body, who shall love truth and justice have a deep sense of responsibility.”
We must also learn to look after each other. This was a great reminder imparted to our batch during our 25th year high school class reunion last weekend. Look after each other, personally and as a community. Responsibility and empathy are the foundations of a stable society.
We cannot just take pride in building sturdy and impressive walls or gated communities, literally and figuratively, that separate us from our neighbors, and give us a false sense of security.
Focusing on law enforcement can only lead to repressive policies, as we are experiencing now, if we fail to address the socio-economic inequalities and injustices that rob our youth of their potentials.
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