Rule of law disappears when the death squads can thrive 
The Universe
(May 07, 2006)
Several years ago, I was sued for libel by the former mayor of Davao City because I began an international letter-writing campaign asking him to investigate the killings of street children by the so-called Davao Death Squad.
Mayor De Guzman was so angered by the flood of letters especially from Filipinos abroad, who were shocked at the killings that included dozens of street children, he filed a case against me and Preda human right workers.
After a year, I won the case but tragically the killings still go on today - even children are not spared. Evidence off this was recently shown on ITN and CNN international news channel last February 2006.
The present Mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte, has denied any links to the killings although not vehemently. He still says they are a good thing to combat crime. Duterte publicly told a crime summit at the Manila Hotel in July of last year: "Summary execution of criminals remains the most effective way to crush kidnapping and illegal drugs."
When amnesty International brought his name to the attention of the world in its letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last August, he reacted strongly and told them to mind their own business, which is exactly what they were doing.
He said he had the answer to crime. "This is our problem, and we will solve it my way," he is reported as claiming.
Last year a prominent human rights defender was shot dead on the street in Davao on his way to a meeting about the death squads. The human rights group FIND bravely lived up its name and found the bodies of several people including children buried in shallow graves on waste land known as the ‘firing range’. The rule of the gun, not that of law, spreads terror and fear as anyone can be accused and shot.
Many business people applaud the death squads. Businessman Robert Te told the Mindanao Times "We're more confident to operate in a peaceful Davao, free from criminals, drug syndicates and terrorists," The death penalty has been suspended but it is imposed almost daily by the death squads.
When the rule of law is cast aside then civilised life is not truly possible, without morality and human rights only an empty shell of a corrupt society remains.
I have received death threats in my missionary career and it is a scary thing but we journalists can’t stop writing because fear and evil would win and terror, not truth, would rule the land.
The appointment of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as a security advisor to the President for the region enhanced his reputation and has given the stamp of approval to the death squads, though the president has denied any such approval has been given.
In Metro Manila similar killings are standard practice it seems. It’s called ‘salvaging’. Four police officers were arrested recently for “execution-slayings”.
The President released a statement saying “salvaging has no place in a civilised society where we value human life and protect human rights”.
Now if only that were the reality, this would be a far safer and crime free country. [End]
