The gun-for-hire issue

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The issue of guns-for-hire is a challenge to all of us. Every peace-loving individual in our province is alarmed by this latest development, especially after the Negros Oriental police captured the two men perceived as suspects in a possible assassination plot against the governor.

Reports in various media outlets said the two were dispatched by an unidentified mastermind to kill the governor, but they have denied this, saying they were victims of a “frame-up”.

The intervention of the Commission on Human Rights officer to determine possible human rights violations against the suspects is timely. The CHR will investigate whether the bruises and other injuries sustained and shown by the suspects were inflicted by the arresting officers or not.

Contract-killing or gun-for-hire by using individuals or groups to kill for a fee, has become an “industry” in our country. Where previously cases were known only in Metro Manila and the bigger cities, it has now trickled to the countrysides.

We should therefore all band together to ensure that such operations do not spread further by doing all we can to help dismantle gun-for-hire groups or individuals in our province. We must all get behind the endeavours of our officials and police by being alert and report immediately suspicious individuals.

We should do all we can to stop this inhuman practice to ensure a life of peace and security that we can only enjoy if all those we see among us are God-fearing and law-abiding citizens of our country.*