MANILA, Philippines - A former police official of the Western Police District (now the Manila Police District) believes that the recent series of summary executions in Manila could be the work of law enforcers.
The police officer, who asked not to be named, called up The STAR to say that reports of bodies being found at the former Smokey Mountain dump remind him of the time when he was investigating a series of summary executions in different parts of the city in the 1990s.
“The style is almost the same. They kill the person, usually known criminals and recidivists, then dump the body somewhere else. These vigilantes would, most of the time, make sure that the public is well aware of what is happening. That’s why they tend to dramatize the killing… that’s the reason why they put tags like ‘holdaper ako (I’m a robber)’ on the victims,” he said.
The source – a celebrated police officer during his time – said there are pros and cons in being a vigilante.
“When you salvage criminals you instill fear in their minds. They begin to have second thoughts. For a time, it will lessen criminal activities in the area. But criminals will always be criminals. They will find ways to do their thing. That is when they become more aggressive on their victims. When they rob you they will… harm or even kill you because they know their lives are in danger,” he said, adding that criminals just commit crimes somewhere else when an area becomes “too hot” for them.
The police officer said some, if not most, vigilantes are allegedly law enforcers who want to rid the streets of criminals.
“In the process, they are taking the law into their hands. They could be heroes if you look at it, but when you talk about human rights that would be a blatant violation of the law,” he said.
The bodies of at least four men have been found at the former Smokey Mountain dump in Tondo, Manila for this year. Two of the bodies were found last Thursday and Friday. All of them were gagged, bound and stuffed into sacks, bags or boxes.
Since March, Manila police officers have killed at least 13 robbery suspects who allegedly either shot it out with them, resisted arrest or tried to escape.
“This could probably be the reason why some ‘vigilantes’ are taking the matter in their own hands. It’s one way of cleansing the city. Tondo is one hell of a place. I’m not pinpointing anyone there, but there are really a lot of undesirable people living in that area,” the source said.
Another police officer, who requested anonymity, told The STAR that a group of policemen may be killing hardened criminals and recidivists.