EDITORIAL — No job opportunities for killers-for-hire

When someone commits murder, they usually take great care to ensure the crime is committed as quietly or discreetly as possible, or that as few people as possible witness what has been done.

Which made the murder of a store owner last April 14 along J. Luna Street, Samar Loop, Barangay Luz in Cebu City very shocking, as it was carried out not just in public, but in the middle of the street, as she was riding a motorcycle.

There is no doubt the crime made many people feel unsafe, especially those who use ride-hailing apps. Never mind those who are using public transport or just riding around in their motorcycles.

There is no doubt that this crime once again smeared the reputation of what is supposed to be a safe city where people heading to work or heading home from work only have to worry about traffic, and not getting murdered while in transit.

Now police have the man who allegedly carried out the crime, by their accounts a man hired to kill. They are still looking for the mastermind who allegedly ordered the hit on the victim.

We can’t do anything about some people wanting other people dead; how some see others is completely subjective. But something can be done about those who want to make their twisted fantasies a reality, as well as those who are willing to take some money to do some killing.

The police should get to the bottom of this as fast as they can. Getting to the mastermind and solving this murder as soon as possible should send the message that paying people to kill others doesn’t pay.

It should also send the clear, unmistakable, and obvious message that while job opportunities do abound in the safe and progressive City of Cebu, killing for hire isn’t one of them.