EDITORIAL — None flattering

Two cases happened recently that will not make the major headlines but were still news just the same.

The first is of a woman who was shot dead in a hospital in Dasmariñas, Cavite. According to reports, a lone perpetrator walked into the hospital’s emergency room where a woman was lying on a bed. He casually shoots her before going outside where his accomplice waited on a motorcycle.

Aside from the woman, who was reportedly a police informant, her mother was also shot, while another person was also hurt after a bullet meant for the two passed through a wall.

The second incident is of a security guard who reportedly shot dead the alleged rapist of his 15-year-old daughter. Aside from the initial report, not many details of this story were available of this writing.

Here we have two different people displaying different attitudes when it comes to the authorities, and none of them flattering.

On one hand, in the hospital incident, we have a perpetrator who seems to have a certain confidence that the police cannot stop him so he casually saunters into a hospital and shoots his target before fleeing. On the other hand, in the alleged rape incident, we have someone who feels the law cannot give him the justice he wants quickly enough, hence he must take it into his own hands.

Of course, we cannot condone what either man did even if, in their heart of hearts, many may be willing to forgive the second man for just doing what he thought was right. And while we do want swift justice for any crime committed, especially something as heinous as rape, the proper way of due process must always be observed. Otherwise all hell will break loose if everyone tries to enforce their own brand of swift justice, or at least what they perceive to be justice.

Needless to say, the authorities must do all they can to change the perception that they cannot stop criminals, cannot find criminals, or cannot deal justice fast enough.