Laws need updating amid spate of killings

CEBU, Philippines — The head of the Commission on Human Rights in Central Visayas (CHR Region 7) has underscored the need to enhance law enforcement in Metro Cebu following the series of killings done by masked assailants.

CHR-7 Director Atty. Arvin Odron said though the agency recognizes the hard work of law enforcers, policing or implementation seems to fall short.

"The CHR commends the efforts exerted by the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the community but it appears the efforts are not enough," he told The FREEMAN on Sunday.

CHR-7 does not condone these bloody events as fundamental rights and laws are defied.

"The recent spate of killings happening in Metro Cebu by unidentified gunmen only reflects the inclination of some members of the community to blatantly disregard the respect for human rights and the rule of law," said Odron.

As events are getting worse with killings and violence reported almost every day, he emphasized that present mechanisms or protocols must be assessed and remodeled if needed.

"There must be policy changes as some of our existing laws appear to be antiquated and becomes ineffective now," said Odron.

CHR-7, for its part, also looks into killings done by unidentified men but only cases that are involved in the illegal drugs trade or trafficking.

"Even if done by unidentified assailants, and killings are drug-related, these cases are included in CHR monitoring to know if the government is conducting a criminal investigation to prosecute the perpetrators or it simply tolerates such crimes," Odron explained.

CHR 7 commonly monitors deaths of drug suspects that resulted from police operations or undertakings conducted by other law enforcement agencies.

"One of the mandates of the CHR is to monitor the government's compliance with treaty obligations protecting human rights, hence, we will monitor and investigate killings in the hands of government forces," he said.

With the present situation becoming "alarming," as what Odron described, he called on others stakeholders, the community and all sectors, like from the academe and the religious, to help the police force address these "serious violations of the right to life."

Meanwhile, a 36-year-old basketball coach was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on Saturday evening.

The victim, who was also a member of a fraternity group, was identified by the police as Jeffcloyd Cui, a resident of the said place.

Police Chief Inspector Randy Caballes, chief of Mambaling Police, said that the victim was on his way home walking from a birthday party.

Allegedly, the suspects waited for the victim just two meters away from his residence and immediately shot the approaching victim several times.

Caballes said that the victim was still able to run. He enter a house along the road but the suspects chased him and shot him again which led to his instantaneous death.

Caballes said that they are still conducting an investigation to determine the possible motive of the incident but he said they are looking into personal grudge, illegal drugs, and possible group war.

“Wala ni siya sa listahan (drug personalities) pero dili nato idiscount ang kana nga angulo ato gihapon nang tan-awon,” said Caballes. (FREEMAN)