EDITORIAL - Cops suspected in couple’s slay

It seems we don’t have to wait very long for the next crime or controversy involving a policeman to happen. In this case, policemen.

Earlier this month a couple was shot dead outside their home in San Fernando town. Because the wife was an incumbent barangay councilwoman who was also running for councilor of the town, talk was rife that politics was involved.

However, investigation later revealed that robbery was the likely motive of the crime. It allegedly turned into a shooting after the husband tried to grab the gun of one of the policemen. And the culprits? Police staff sergeants Rene Abella Catamora of the Consolacion Police, Junrey Ypil of the Danao City Police, Junrey Batobalonos of the Lapu-Lapu City Police, and dismissed policeman Esmeraldo Quillosa.

The four have been arrested and charged for the killing along with another policeman, Police Staff Sergeant Alvin Enad, desk officer of Ronda Police Station, who is still at large.

So now there are the usual questions. First is what led the policemen to do this? A deeper one; why do some policemen do this? Is there something in the system that makes them brazen enough to commit these crimes? Do they commit these crimes because they are assured of protection from a higher power? From a taxpayer’s standpoint; was their pay increase not enough for their needs?

Something else sinister floated during the confessions of the arrested policemen; someone allegedly called them with instructions to rob the couple. This begs us to ask at least three more questions: Who made the call? What are the arrangements between the policemen and the caller? Are there other policemen at the back and call of this mysterious caller?

As with any controversy involving policemen, we submit that the majority of them are not scalawags are and actually doing their best to keep the peace and order. However, and again we say this, it’s the scalawags who make the most impact on the minds of the people, who make the impression on the young, who make the bigger splash.

And it is also these scalawags who seem to be getting even bolder and bolder with every dastardly act they commit.