P50,000 for dead criminals in Cebu City

CEBU CITY—If presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is issuing a shoot-to-kill order against high profile criminals, the newly elected mayor of Cebu City is offering cash rewards to those who can kill criminals including those involved in drugs and theft.

The first beneficiary would be PO3 Julius Sadaya Regis who shot two suspected robbers along Archbishop Reyes Avenue on Tuesday noon, said Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña.

But Regis would get a smaller amount because the two suspects were only wounded and not killed.

If a policeman, or any individual, can kill a criminal without violating the law, the reward will be as much as P50,000. If the suspect is just wounded, the reward is only P5,000.

“The reward is P5,000 for wounding a criminal and P50,000 for a dead criminal,” said Osmeña.

For vigilantes or policemen “to get the P50,000, the criminal should be dead,” he said.

Osmeña said policemen, village watchmen and civilians would get the reward only if the killing was legal and the gun used was licensed.

He cited as example the killing by a civilian of a suspect during the actual commission of a crime.

“There is a robbery. They (civilians) come to the rescue (of the victim and) shoot the robber,” Osmeña said.

The incoming mayor clarified that the cash reward would not come from City Hall funds. Asked where the money would come from, he replied: “It’s none of your business.”

A day after Osmeña announced the reward, an off-duty policeman shot two robbers fleeing on a motorcycle after robbing passengers of a public utility jeepney (PUJ).

Regis, a member of the city police intelligence branch, was off-duty and riding his motorcycle when he noticed a commotion inside a PUJ and saw three suspects fleeing.

For wounding the suspects, Armando Dela Peña would get P10,000 for each of the suspects.

Osmeña said policemen should sharpen their shooting skills. “So it is a must that the police must practice shooting,” he said.

He said arresting suspects was not covered by the reward system because it was part of a policeman’s job.

Asked if his move would lead to the rise of vigilantism in the city, the mayor-elect said it was not his problem anymore.

Osmeña said criminals, who did not want to be killed, should just leave the city.

“What is important is that the robbers will be scared. I am just giving them a warning,” he said.

He acknowledged that his drastic move might not lead to a zero crime rate, but said he was sure it would reduce crimes.

“I will not compromise the safety of our people. I will defend them. I don’t care who gets in the way,” he said. With a report from Ador Mayol, Inquirer Visayas