Intolerant of opposing views

Reader Annette Kinne wrote in the Inquirer Opinion page that I encouraged death squads that target “human rights workers and impoverished street children” in my May 6 column.

She said: “In a civilized society, there can never be justification for the use of death squads, acting as judges and executioners, and whose actions are outside the lawful structures of the state.

“When operating properly, the lawful structures of the state—legislature, police and judiciary—should provide the framework for a just society.”

But first, a clarification: I never mentioned human rights workers and impoverished street children as targets of death squads.

Why should law-abiding citizens be targeted just because they’re poor or concerned about the welfare of their fellowmen? It beats logic.

I know where Kinne is coming from because her country, Ireland, is an orderly and just society.

But in a third world country like the Philippines where the police are inept, most judges are corrupt or incompetent, and many legislators steal people’s money instead of pass laws, the citizenry favors extrajudicial killings on a case-by-case basis.

This is the case in Davao City where the death of a notorious criminal who had escaped from the clutches of the law because of cunning or influence is a welcome development.

Tagum City, an hour’s ride from Davao City, was very peaceful during Mayor Rey Uy’s time because residents could sleep soundly in their homes or walk the streets at night without fear of getting mugged.

But Tagum is now the complete opposite of the peaceful city it was before; there’s a reign of criminal terror.

With Uy out of office, residents pine for those days of Camelot.

* * *

Kinne should not compare Ireland to the Philippines where the law and order situation is far from ideal.

It’s like comparing a Mercedes Benz to a jeepney, a poor man’s means of transport.

Kinne has probably not experienced being held up or beaten black and blue in the street and going to a police station where a sleepy, potbellied officer at the desk asked for gasoline money to go after her attackers.

She has apparently not experienced facing her adversary in court wearing a smirk because he had already talked to or bribed the judge.

In Ireland, innocent persons wrongly accused are probably acquitted while wrongdoers go to jail; it’s usually the other way around here.

Unlike the Philippines, Ireland probably does not have a legislator who introduced a law which allows teenagers involved in crimes to get off scot-free, leading to more and more minors being involved in illegal activities.

*  *  *

“I am shocked and sickened that the Inquirer would allow views supporting such illegality and brutality to be published and promoted on its very own pages,” Kinne said in a letter to this paper’s editors.

The managing director, producer and director of films apparently cannot tolerate views contrary to her own.

Hasn’t Kinne heard about the freedom of speech and of the press?

Reader Annette Kinne wrote in the Inquirer Opinion page that I encouraged death squads that target “human rights workers and impoverished street children” in my May 6 column.

She said: “In a civilized society, there can never be justification for the use of death squads, acting as judges and executioners, and whose actions are outside the lawful structures of the state.

“When operating properly, the lawful structures of the state—legislature, police and judiciary—should provide the framework for a just society.”

But first, a clarification: I never mentioned human rights workers and impoverished street children as targets of death squads.

Why should law-abiding citizens be targeted just because they’re poor or concerned about the welfare of their fellowmen? It beats logic.

I know where Kinne is coming from because her country, Ireland, is an orderly and just society.

But in a third world country like the Philippines where the police are inept, most judges are corrupt or incompetent, and many legislators steal people’s money instead of pass laws, the citizenry favors extrajudicial killings on a case-by-case basis.

This is the case in Davao City where the death of a notorious criminal who had escaped from the clutches of the law because of cunning or influence is a welcome development.

Tagum City, an hour’s ride from Davao City, was very peaceful during Mayor Rey Uy’s time because residents could sleep soundly in their homes or walk the streets at night without fear of getting mugged.

But Tagum is now the complete opposite of the peaceful city it was before; there’s a reign of criminal terror.

With Uy out of office, residents pine for those days of Camelot.

* * *

Kinne should not compare Ireland to the Philippines where the law and order situation is far from ideal.

It’s like comparing a Mercedes Benz to a jeepney, a poor man’s means of transport.

Kinne has probably not experienced being held up or beaten black and blue in the street and going to a police station where a sleepy, potbellied officer at the desk asked for gasoline money to go after her attackers.

She has apparently not experienced facing her adversary in court wearing a smirk because he had already talked to or bribed the judge.

In Ireland, innocent persons wrongly accused are probably acquitted while wrongdoers go to jail; it’s usually the other way around here.

Unlike the Philippines, Ireland probably does not have a legislator who introduced a law which allows teenagers involved in crimes to get off scot-free, leading to more and more minors being involved in illegal activities.

*  *  *

“I am shocked and sickened that the Inquirer would allow views supporting such illegality and brutality to be published and promoted on its very own pages,” Kinne said in a letter to this paper’s editors.

The managing director, producer and director of films apparently cannot tolerate views contrary to her own.

Hasn’t Kinne heard about the freedom of speech and of the press?