EDITORIAL – Vigilante-inspired

The immediate thing that comes to mind regarding the killing of anti-illegal fishing czar Jojo dela Victoria was that the attack had something to do with his job. Whether or not that is eventually borne out by evidence remains to be seen.

But what most people do not immediately see is that, in some way, the brutal killing carries with it the hallmark audacity of the killers involved in the summary executions that have come to associated with Cebu City.

We are not suggesting that vigilantes did dela Victoria in. Indeed, the killing did not fit the pattern of summary executions that have gripped the city. Besides, there is no reason for anyone to kill dela Victoria vigilante-style.

All we are saying is that, because vigilante killings have become so common, we suspect the killers of dela Victoria may have been inspired by the fact that almost anyone can kill anybody else in this city and get away with it.

The authorities may dispute this, but the facts do not lie. Ever since the vigilante killings started more than a year ago, more than a hundred and twenty people have already been killed with not a single person ever caught and brought to justice.

Again, we say we do not believe the vigilantes were responsible for the death of dela Victoria. But we suspect that whoever killed him could have been emboldened by the fact that no one has ever been caught after killing someone the past year or so.

This is precisely one of the dangers that level-headed people have been warning the authorities about, that unless the summary killings are stopped, pretty soon someone will be emboldened to kill not just criminals but even law-abiding citizens themselves.

Only when the summary killings are stopped and the killers brought to justice will other killers stop to think about the consequences of the criminal intents. Law and order only works in an atmosphere of justice.