UN body seeks report on anticrime crusader’s slay

Colleagues and relatives of Zenaida Luz join the funeral procession for the anticrime crusader in the town of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A United Nations body has expressed interest in investigating the killing of Zenaida Luz, head of an anticrime group in the region of Mimaropa, allegedly by two police officers.

Lawyer Jose Malvar Villegas Jr., founder of Citizens Crime Watch (CCW), which Luz headed in the Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (Mimaropa) region, said his office received calls from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), asking CCW to submit a report on Luz’s killing.

In an Oct. 17 letter to the UNODC, CCW described Luz’s case as “the first concrete evidence of police officers caught in extrajudicial killings and is a big breakthrough for the UN rapporteur [on extrajudicial killings] to begin with its investigation.”

Civilian desks

Villegas said the murder of Luz also prompted calls for the return of civilian desks in police stations to deter crimes involving law enforcers.

He urged Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, to approve the group’s proposal to set up help desks in every police station in the country.

Villegas said this would be something akin to Koban, a method of community policing in Japan carried out by smaller units of auxiliary forces.

CCW’s call came after Luz was shot and killed on Oct. 9 by two police officers.

Senior Insp. Magdalino Pimentel Jr. and Insp. Markson Almeranez were arrested after they were wounded in a clash with fellow policemen, who pursued them following the attack on Luz.

Villegas said Luz’s killing is the “first concrete incident of extrajudicial killing” under President Duterte’s watch.