P500T bounty for information to help stop 'vigilante killings'

Probably also itching to see a solution to the vigilante killings in Cebu, some individuals have reportedly approached a city councilor to offer half a million pesos as reward for information that can put a closure to this matter.

Cebu City Councilor Hilario Davide III told the council during a special session yesterday that some people have approached him to make the offer of a reward.

This, he believes, shall hopefully encourage witnesses to come out into the open and identify the people behind the summary executions, which started on December 22, 2004.

To date, there are 179 recorded victims of extra-judicial killings. Most of the victims have criminal records.

Supt. Pablo Labra II, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB), said that the reward money might entice witnesses to come out into the open.

Labra together with the 11 station commanders and special unit commanders of the city police appeared before the council during the session, which was specially called to look into the vigilante killings.

The police official said, "We encounter a lot of problems here. We are not able to get cooperation from relatives and witnesses of the scene of the crime."

When told about the bounty that is offered, Labra said, "I would not encourage it sir. It is a crime itself. If you take the law into your own hands, that is a crime itself."

He added that this amount still would not be an assurance that witnesses will surface and the cases will be solved in a few days.

Davide believes that the reward would be something that would encourage witnesses, but Vice Mayor Michael Rama said that what is important now is for the summary killings to stop.

In a surprise move, the councilors gave up their seats to the police officials present including acting director Supt. Melvin Gayotin, who were asked by Rama to write down their suspects and why they tagged them as such.

The vice mayor said that the answers of the police officials would help clarify certain matters to the members of the council.

A few days before the vigilante-style killings started, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced his plan to organize the "Hunters Team" to go after criminal elements in the city.

The team was to be composed of top-caliber shooters from the city police and their task was to "seek and destroy" criminals.

After several vigilante-style killings were consummated, Osmeña said that he might have inspired such, but denied any involvement.

Public opinion on the summary executions have been divided with some saying that these have helped eliminate the "undesirables of society" while others believe that such is not only illegal, but also immoral since it is contrary to the teachings of Christianity.

Rama also asked the 11 police station commanders to submit their plan of action in their area of responsibility, but he did not get the answers he wanted since the officials came unprepared. - Joeberth M. Ocao and Gary B. Lao