Crack down on crime

THE recent kidnapping of Roland Z. Villegas, chairman of barangay Anonang in San Fabian, a former Liga ng mga Barangay president and defeated mayoralty candidate, adds to the now increasing list of unresolved crimes involving prominent personalities in the province.

Two daughters of a Chinese businessman from San Jacinto were kidnapped four months ago and they were returned safely only after the father agreed to pay the abductors’ ransom demand and without getting the police involved.

Almost one year ago, San Carlos Mayor Julian Resuello, then running as vice mayor as he had already reached the maximum third term, was gunned down in the midst of his town’s fiesta celebration. One of Resuello’s bodyguards, Eulogio Martinez, died along with him in the gunfire that also wounded several others, including civilians.

Also last year in San Carlos, well-known lawyer Conrado Soriano Jr. was murdered. Soon after, Alejo Alex Dojillo a lawyer from San Fabian who was working for the Ombudsman’s office in Manila was slain in his hometown.

Several murder cases committed against local judges are also pending.

And what of the numerous crimes against ordinary citizens, several of whom are victims of similar fashions of killing – shot to death by men on board unmarked motorcycles, their identities safely protected by their helmets.

Not to take away the glory from the Best Provincial Police Station award, but all these unsettled crimes cast a very grim shadow on the reputation and capabilities of our local police force, that has been recognized as supposed to be the best in the country.

Furthermore, Oplan Bakal — the anti loose firearms program ordered by Governor Amado Espino Jr., himself a former military man — is supposed to be in place in the province. But is it?

The violence is alarming enough, but that the perpetrators seemingly get away so easily with all these crimes is even more daunting.

Lawlessness is frightening and it obviously strikes at practically anybody — famous, infamous or ordinary people — as shown by the cases that have been piling up. It is a threat, as real as jueteng and illegal drugs, that our police needs to crack down and it will require more than the formation of special task forces.

Reducing the level of criminality via statistics and win awards is one thing, solving the crimes is another.

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