The death of 17-year-old Kian Lloyd delos Santos led to several protests to condemn the administration’s bloody war on drugs. But the protests also caused President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters to confront those who protested over Kian’s death as to why there was no public outcry over the rape and/or death of other kids.
[ads2]
Facebook user Eric Cabahug reposted what he said was his lawyer sister’s response to those who are also looking for a public outcry over the victims of other crimes, especially those victimized by drug addicts.
Here are two biggest points in his sister’s response:
- Common criminals are answerable only to themselves, their conscience, and the law so it is up to the justice system to penalize them.
- But when the police are the ones involved in killing civilians, they are morally and legally obligated to answer to the citizens for their wrongdoings because they took an oath to serve, protect and uphold the law for the good and safety of the people.
“Much as we want or expect others to be good and decent like us, we have no control over their actions. We’re obviously different from one another and face different circumstances in life. Ayaw man natin silang magnakaw, pumatay, mang-rape o maging masama, wala tayong magagawa. These common criminals are not answerable to the rest of us. WALA SILANG PANANAGUTAN SA ATIN,” the lawyer said.
“They’re answerable to their conscience and the law. That is why we have the courts to deal with them and dispense justice to the victims and their families. And when the courts and the justice system function as they should, as they generally have so far, there is no need to take to the streets to decry even heinous crimes,” she added.
But when cops are involved, that’s when the citizens can call them out.
“MAY PANANAGUTAN SILA SA ATIN. They have a MORAL AND LEGAL OBLIGATION to us, the citizenry, to account for their misdeeds and wrongdoings,” she said.
[ads1]
“Firstly, they took an OATH not only to serve and protect us but also to uphold the law for the good and safety of everyone. Secondly, they’re public servants,” she added.
As how Cabahug’s sister put it, “PINAPASWELDO natin sila through taxes from our hard-earned money. We have every right to call them out and take them to task kung uma-abuso sila.”
“If those who were supposed to protect us are the ones we need protection from and we can’t turn to or expect the government to make them accountable (because it was the government who authorized, sanctioned, encouraged or supported the killings in the first place), where do we go? What do we do? Who monitors the monitor? Who polices the police?” she said.
As for the outcry over Kian’s death? This is what she has to say: “And that is where the OUTRAGE comes from – fear, anger and hopelessness.”
Another netizen also tried to explain just why people are protesting over Kian’s death but not over the death of other victims.
JR Barreto posted what seemed to be a note of a short analysis to discuss the public outrage over Kian’s case.
Here’s what the note says:
“When drug addicts kill innocent people, walang public outrage kasi we TRUST that the PNP will be able to deliver justice for the victims.
Actually, nakakainsulto sa PNP yun kung may public outrage over something that they’re trying their best to resolve.
Ngayon, when it’s the PNP who kills innocent people, ibang usapan na yan. Alam mo kung baket?!! BECAUSE THE PNP AREN’T SUPPOSED TO BE KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!
Kaya may public outrage! Kaya nagagalit ang mga tao! Kasi the people they trust to deliver justice are the ones committing injustice!
Does that make sense?
Kaya next time don’t ask us kung nasaan yung outrage naming nung may pinatay ang adik kasi we were TRUSTING the cops to do their job.”
Sources: ( cnnphilippines.com )
[ads3]
