Alleged kidnappers were gunned down in an alleged shoot-out in Davao City a couple of days ago. After this incident, many Filipinos reacted and were elated that the kidnappers were served “swift justice”.
A video which surfaced on the Internet however tells a different story.
The video showed on Adobo Talks an outgunned and outmanned group of people confined in a car, in the act of surrendering cut abruptly by gunfire.
In the video of the Davao kidnapping rescue, one of the suspects in the SUV can be seen still after the shootout. Police officers approached the vehicle and confronted the kidnapping suspect. It appeared that he had his hands his head when one of the police officers kicked him. Seconds later, a shot was heard and the suspect was seen slumping to the ground. – See more at: http://www.adobotalkph.com/2013/07/davao-kidnappers-rubout-summary-execution-video.html#sthash.OgW880iP.dpuf
I do know of the concept of the right to a speedy trial in a court of law – the death of the alleged kidnappers in an alleged “shootout”, ain’t an example that can be taught in Political Science 101 in any self-respecting school (or law school) in the Philippines for that matter.
Politicians sensing a good source of “pogi points” were quick to do the King Kong chest beating that criminals should stay out of Davao. A quick retort would be – criminals should stay out because there’s already too many of them in Davao? Or perhaps Ernie Macasaet would turn in his grave and say “bawal ang kriminal, kami lang”. But I digress.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t condone kidnapping. However, for justice to be valid, it needs to be served in a court of law which observes due process – not by Judge Dredd, the Lone Ranger, or any self-appointed terminator for that matter.
The early death of the kidnappers deprives investigators of a source of information on the masterminds. Were they executed in order to protect the identities of the masterminds? And if so, were the field operatives knowingly or unknowingly protecting the masterminds? We wouldn’t know for sure – not when the alleged perps are dead.
With the news of their alleged fellow kidnappers dead – the alleged members of the KFR gang can go into hiding and lie low for awhile. To the more jaded, it would mean that the current “batch” have become a liability to their handlers and they will be “cleaned up” to protect the powers that be. With extreme poverty in the background, many will step into the shoes of those whose services have been “terminated”.
I came across an article on Ehow.com about Poverty and Crime
A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in 2007 showed that those who are in areas where poverty is abundant had fewer options in life. People living in poverty-stricken areas were more likely to have adverse health issues due to unaffordable health care, risky behavior and the lack of proper education. Those who experience poverty are more likely to suffer from health conditions due to being closer to freeways and industrial buildings that are not usually welcome in higher-income areas. There is also a notable historical rise in property damage that parallels the unemployment rate throughout American history.
Are Filipino leaders addressing the root causes of crime, or are they merely content to address the symptoms?
When Filipino leaders themselves are the source of policies which expand poverty – which in turn drives criminal activity What does that say about the leaders Filipinos have chosen – and the Filipinos themselves?
The nature of crime varies all over the Philippines. However it can be said that there are generic characteristics in each local setting. Note also, that just because people are poor does not necessarily mean they are prone to become criminals because there are rich people who are also criminals.
In a paper written by Steven Levitt which explores the changes in the relationships between race, income, and criminal victimization over time, he points out the following:
1 – The simplest version of the economic model of crime (Becker 1968) would suggest that the rich become increasingly attractive targets as the income distribution widens, leading to rising victimization of the rich relative to the poor.2 – However, if the rich are able to engage in behavior that reduces their victimization, such as investments in security, victimization of the rich may rise or fall depending in part on the income elasticity of crime avoidance.3 – Finally, in models such as Wilson (1987) in which the rich provide positive externalities to the poor, increased income inequality along with greater segregation by income can lead to concentrations of poverty. In this scenario, criminal victimization of the poor is likely to rise relative to the rich.
Thus in areas like Makati – or in enclaves all over the Philippines which has wide income income distribution the rich are prone to crime. Those who invest in security may be able to reduce their victimization altough it still is not an assurance – given the phenomenon of “inside jobs”.
In areas where political patronage the rule than the exception – the rich vested interests provide freebies to their political base to reduce their victimization. Criminal victimization is redirected towards the poor. Thus in areas like Davao where political dynasties and their cronies are on steroids, criminality against the rich are minimal – and criminality against the poor are more rampant.
The Philippines is Davao writ large. The political class and their economic cronies have invested in externalities – freebies for the poor – at taxpayers expense. The end outcome of these policies have been to expand poverty – and with it crime, waged by the poor against their fellow poor.
The question to me is – who is the GREATER criminal? Those who committed crime due to dire poverty? Or those who expanded poverty and benefited from it?
In simple terms – Is the 16 million pesos gained from kidnapping more criminal than the plunder of taxpayers money – to include CCT subsidy, sin tax bill, RH bill, protecting cronies businesses, awarding government contracts to cronies only.
What I know is that the alleged kidnappers are dead and the plunderers get re-elected to distribute freebies to their equally criminal supporters – and Filipinos are still as poor as frak.
As more OFWs return to the Philippines to face the prospects of joblessness, poverty, and hunger – this show ain’t over.
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