Are we now known as the murder capital of the world?

The chilling revelations coming from both Jinggoy Estrada and Ping Lacson about several alleged murders are making people even more convinced that indeed, such executions are being carried out by the police and other men in uniform. The “exposé” of Ping Lacson, however, has only strengthened the resolve of Joseph Estrada to seek the presidency once again. Informal surveys show that the poor have become even more sympathetic to the former president, perhaps recalling movies where their idol was unjustly portrayed as the bad guy when in reality, he was just advancing the cause of the poor and downtrodden.

The eloquence of Jinggoy in defending his father was effective, turning the tables on Lacson with the description of more killings ostensibly ordered by the latter, especially the testimony of a dying man. Whether the accusations being hurled by both camps against each other are true or not, people are beginning to wonder if those who are supposed to uphold the law are the very same ones who are ordering such contract killings.

Earlier this year, reports came out that the country was included in the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records for the dubious distinction of having the most number of “recorded murders” in 2004 totaling 3,515 – with the figures based on the latest available data from the United Nations. Of course, Malacañang was not too happy about it, but the perception among many is that the number could probably be higher considering that 2004 was an election year.

It’s unfortunate that many people have become blasé about such revelations especially with the political season starting to heat up. Filipinos have gotten so used to reports of violence and murder especially in election hotspots all over the country – which is probably why bulletproof cars are in demand again from politicians especially those running in the local level where the competition can be fierce and deadly.

Take Abra for instance, which has been tagged by the police as the murder capital of the Cordilleras, attributing most of the violence to the intense political rivalries in the province. In 2006, Abra Representative Luis “Chito” Bersamin was shot by motorcycle-riding assassins in front of a church. The mastermind, tagged as former Abra governor Vicente “Vicsyd” Valera, was only recently arrested by authorities. The situation in the province, though, is said to be no better, with killings continuing to happen almost on a daily basis.

Last February, an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was killed while he was having supper with his family, with his 16-year-old son also shot in cold-blooded fashion. Authorities have pinpointed guns-for-hire from Abra and Ilocos Sur as suspects, with the mastermind reportedly a drug dealer. Many people familiar with Abra say the province has indeed become notorious for its assassins for hire. Young men are reportedly trained early on to become professional killers who, for as low as P5,000, would not blink at the thought of pumping bullets into anyone.

The Philippines has also been identified as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines which keeps tab of murder cases involving media people says more than a hundred had been killed since 1986, with two murders already reported during the first half of this year. Not added to the body count are witnesses who have been slain – which makes it really difficult to solve the murders because more often than not, people are afraid to testify for fear of bloody and fatal reprisals from killers. As some have observed, some people find it cheaper to hire assassins than to sue for libel. This is even made more complicated when the killers are suspected to be members of the police or military supposedly “on leave.”

Regional trial court judges have also been victims of extra-judicial killings, like Judge Henrick Gingoyon (who was handling the PIATCO case at the time) who was ambushed by motorcycle-riding assailants a few hours before the New Year in 2006. Then there were Voltaire Rosales and Nathaniel Pattugalan, judges who were also killed in the same fashion – making the judicial profession almost as dangerous as journalism.

The Mafia-style execution of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez was also shocking to many who could not believe people could be so heartless and coldblooded, strangling the young woman with a steel wire, putting her in a metal drum, pouring cement on her and then dumping her in the water. With such gangland-type executions, one would think we’re not too far away from countries like Colombia, Venezuela or Mexico.

In fact, Juarez City in Mexico has been tagged as the “most violent city on earth,” with an average of 250 people killed every month due to the long-running drug wars that have plagued Mexicans for so long. Victims are tortured first before they are shot, burned or dismembered. The so-called drug barons are awash with cash, with governors, mayors and police chiefs on their payroll. The drug cartels are virtually controlling Juarez and many parts of Mexico – which is probably why the beleaguered Mexican president has called on the army to go after the narcos all over Mexico.

It’s bad enough that the Philippines has already been named as one of the most dangerous places for journalists. Now, the foreign media has picked up on the revelation of murders coming from the halls of the Senate – which could now give the Philippines the disparaging distinction as “the murder capital of the world.”

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