A medal for witness in drive-by shooting

The drive-by shooting  incident in Quezon City that resulted in the death of  five persons was solved by the police after a witness identified a suspect, Mohammad Mindalano, as the driver of the motorcycle that was used in the crime.

But what if the witness didn’t have a sense of civic duty like most Filipinos who witness a crime?

That witness who pinpointed  the suspect should be given a medal because he’s one in a million.

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In my public service show, “Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo,” we plead with witnesses to a crime to testify, to no avail.

A beating, stabbing or shooting victim would report to us that there were several witnesses.

Tulfo’s “angels,” which is what  I call my Isumbong staff, and sometimes I  myself, would try to convince them to testify.

These witnesses would either deny they were at the scene or tell us outright that they don’t want to get involved.

Most Filipinos lack a sense of  civic duty and don’t report a crime if the victim is not their close friend or relative.

Their stock answers are: “We don’t want to get involved,” “I’m too busy to testify in court,” “we’re scared, because the perpetrators are powerful and influential,” “why should I, he’s not my relative?”

*  *  *

What those people don’t know is that their indifference to the plight of the victim will come to haunt them sooner or later.

A person who tolerates the commission of a crime by not reporting it or testifying against the perpetrator is as guilty as the criminal himself.

The Universe will make him get a taste of being a crime victim in the future; or one of his or her close relatives will become a crime victim later.

* * *

Many years ago, I saw two security guards at a mall in Quezon City shoot at a car with two teenagers after an argument over a parking ticket.

Luckily, the two teenagers, a boy and his girlfriend, were not hit.

I took time out to testify in court against the two security guards even if the two teenagers were complete strangers to me.

The guards were convicted of attempted homicide.

My son, who was still a kid at the time, asked me why I would help two strangers.

I told him: “Son, if somebody hurts or tries to hurt you, I expect another person will come to your aid.”

My words were prophetic because when my son’s car fell into a ravine years later  in Tarlac province, complete strangers came to his rescue  and helped him and his friends out of the car which was a complete wreck.

* * *

If that drive-by shooting happened in Davao City, Mindalano and his companion would be dead by now, the  victims of vigilante justice.

He and his ilk who kill for fun are a menace to society and should face the consequences of their acts.