Goforth denies police link to killings in city

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Superintendent James Goforth, chief of the city police, has strongly rejected public perception that law enforcement agencies have been behind the series of shooting incidents in the city where most of the victims were reportedly linked to the illegal drugs trade.

Goforth said these were just allegations and there was no evidence to prove that the recent murders in the city were extrajudicial killings carried out by state agents, or even by vigilantes.

He said he believed in the integrity of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies whose members have a “high regard to the preservation of life.”

Reacting further to increasing public views that the police were allegedly behind the killings, Goforth declared: “We don’t have the right to take somebody’s life. We follow the process that is right.”

Goforth, however, reiterated that based on police records and current statistics, majority of the shooting incidents in the city involve personalities that have a previous history of involvement or are currently engaged in illegal drugs operations.

“It is a war against (drug trade) rivals or among themselves and in most cases the shooting incidents are pre-meditated,” he said.

The police official also said drug personalities were just waiting for the right time to make a hit, watching the moves of the policemen as they go after those that have bungled drug transactions.

Most shooting victims are alleged drug personalities, whose names are in the police’s target list and have been involved in illegal drug activities, said Goforth.

Goforth said, in line with the police’s relentless anti-illegal drugs operations, there is a need for a strengthened community participation to help the police curb the problem.

For every drug personality killed or arrested comes a replacement and that is how elaborate the illegal drugs operation is, he said.

Goforth disclosed that during the first half of the year, the Dumaguete police has already surpassed its accomplishment on illegal drugs and illegal firearms compared to the same period of last year. He, however, has no available statistics at the time of the interview. (FREEMAN)