The recent Senate investigation on the Negros Oriental killings managed to scrape the surface, and obtain national attention to the climate of fear that is gripping residents of this erstwhile peaceful Province.
Instead of arriving at solutions, the investigation instead left us with more questions than answers.
The Commission on Human Rights said it believes that the recent killings in Negros Oriental that prompted an investigation by the Senate Committee on Peace and Order were mostly not the works of the CPP/NPA, but of vigilantes.
Dr. Jess Cañete, CHR head in Negros Oriental, said that only the killing of the four policemen in Ayungon, and the killing of two rebel returnees in Zamboanguita appear to be the handiwork of the CPP-NPA.
This supports what many, if not most, people in the Province have been suspecting all along.
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As proven by these killings, no one is safe — not even in the comforts of a secure home.
Given this preliminary finding, and assuming these are true, who can stop these killings?
We acknowledge the government’s efforts in trying to end communist armed conflicts.
To solve a problem, we have to acknowledge the problem, and face it squarely. That said, we must also address vigilante killings.
There once was a group of mice who wanted to get rid of a marauding cat. One of the mice suggests putting a bell on the neck of the cat so they could all be warned of the cat’s presence. All of them applaud the plan, until one mouse asks, “Who will bell the cat?” And they all started making excuses.
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