Atienza: Stop Ermita murders

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered yesterday a thorough investigation of the "salvaging" of suspected robbers preying on foreigners at the tourist belt in Ermita, saying the extra-judicial practice would send a wrong message to the public.

"We won’t allow vigilantism in Manila. Vigilantes are not welcome here," said Atienza as he tapped Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos to personally supervise the investigation.

Atienza issued the directive a day after he returned from an official trip to Shanghai, China. The mayor was out of the country when bodies of persons, believed "salvage" victims were dumped in Malate.

Reports had it that vigilantes struck to stop criminal elements from preying on tourists in tourist belt areas, where cases of robbery were reported every other day. But Atienza stressed that there is no valid justification to set aside due process.

"Nobody has the right to take the law into their hands and I am warning whoever is responsible for this atrocity to stop because they would eventually be caught and prosecuted," Atienza added.

Atienza also expressed apprehension that the incidents of "salvaging" would surely be a setback to the local government’s campaign to boost the tourism industry in the city.

"Salvaging incidents do not accomplish anything except give Malate, considered the city’s premier tourism and entertainment destination, a negative image," he noted.

With this, Atienza also directed WPD to enforce the law effectively and efficiently. "Better law enforcement, not vigilantism is the best deterrent to crime, he said". – Cecille Suerte Felipe and Mike Frialde