‘No one arrested, but supporters still liable’

NO one ever got arrested for executing suspected hoodlums at the height of “vigilante” killings in Cebu City.

Nevertheless, the creation of death squads is illegal, said Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals 19th division yesterday.

In a phone interview, Ingles said an investigation should be conducted into  the WikiLeaks report to find out whether or not government officials “encouraged” vigilante killings in Cebu City.

“A probe can be done to verify the authenticity of the report. We oppose extrajudicial killings because we must uphold the rule of law,” Ingles said.

He said murder charges can be filed against anyone who induce summary killings.

“Even if you have no direct participation, if you are the one who encouraged the killings, you are equally liable,” Ingles said.

“It is against the Constitution. If we tolerate it, it seems that we no longer need justice,” Ingles said.

Earl Bonachita, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter, said the issue of vigilante killings was already brought to the attention of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas.

“The IBP consistently opposed all summary killings because the same violated our laws and the Bill of Rights under the 1987 Constitution (which says) that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law,” Bonachita said in a text message.

Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, a human rights lawyer, said there was  no evidence to prove that Osmeña was behind the exrajudicial killings.

“All politicians should observe the rule of law and uphold the dignity of human life,” he said.