Recent events in the City make us wonder what is fact or rumor.
It is a fact that in the previous week, two persons alleging to be ambulant vendors were arrested in the vicinity of the house of the Governor in Barangay Bonawon, Siaton. When apprehended, they allegedly had guns and hand grenades in their possession. In summary, these are the facts gleaned from news reports.
It is fact that Gov. Rouel Degamo is the highest officer of the Province, and thus, any attempt on his life should be treated very seriously. Protecting the life of the Governor is the duty of our police officers, as embodied in their motto: “To serve and to protect”.
It is also the duty of the police investigators to thoroughly conduct a background investigation on the arrested suspects and their sworn statements, crime scene investigation, and analysis of their findings in the most objective and professional manner.
The new police officers are college graduates who have yet to pass the Criminology Board exams. This is part of their preparation and training.
Now, there are different kinds of evidence which have to be sifted, studied, and analyzed: object, documentary, and testimonial evidence. Objects and documents can be examined as is for their probative value.
Any evidence, whether oral or documentary is hearsay if its probative value is not based on the personal knowledge of the witness but on the knowledge of some other person who is not on the witness stand.
Hearsay evidence is excluded because the party against whom it is presented is deprived of his right and opportunity to cross examine the persons to whom the statements or writings are attributed.
The news of the incident quoting police reports had been spread by the media: radio, print, and TV. Many innuendos, surmises, conjectures, and conclusions had been made on the alleged incident alluding to some personalities as the alleged perpetrators.
Prudence is on the side of caution; let us not rush into conclusions because it is the duty of these government officials to avoid or avert the worst case scenario.
Haphazard conclusions would distract the investigation, and could result in injustice to persons who are wrongly accused. Let us learn to sift facts from rumors.