“Malipay mi kung dunay criminal nga patyon kay one criminal dead is one safer place to live in.”
Thelma Chiong, national vice president of the Crusade Against Violence (CAV), an organization helping victims of senseless killings and other heinous crimes, supports the vigilante-style killings if only to make our place safer.
Chiong however urged those behind the vigilante-style killings in Cebu to ensure that no innocent people are killed.
“Suporta mi sa vigilante killing basta kriminal lang ang biktima,” Chiong said.
She explained that the CAV stand on vigilantism maybe contrary to their advocacy, but it is not also totally against it. She said that the reality is that it is very difficult to arrest a criminal and that she believes that “once a criminal will always be a criminal.”
Chiong said although they support the vigilante-style killings, the CAV is also willing to help the families of the innocent people caught in the crossfire.
“Kung magpatabang namo ang pamilya sa mga naangin makatabang mi,” Chiong said.
It can be recalled that there were innocent people killed together with the suspected criminals in several vigilante-style killings in Cebu, where the body count is now around 200.
Last week, Ronald Enario was killed when his cousin, a suspected robber Ricolly Igoy, was ambushed in Minglanilla after posting bail. Igoy’s wife, Analyn and sister Chona were also wounded during the incident.
Few days ago, a retired member of the Philippine Air Force was seriously wounded when his van that was rented by suspected swindlers, who just got out from the Cebu City Jail was ambushed in barangay Kalunasan.
Master Sergeant Henry Comandao is still recuperating in the hospital while the three suspected swindlers, Jose Magno and his wife, Evelyn, and Medase Castro were killed during the ambush.
There is suspicion that it was a handy work by some law enforcers especially the policemen.
But, Chiong believes that the police have nothing to do with the vigilante-style killings in Cebu based on their own sources. — /NLQ