Ricaforte: No extra-judicial killings
23 SHOT TO DEATH IN 90 DAYS
LINGAYEN–Twenty-three shooting incidents, all resulting in the deaths of the victims, have taken place in the province since September 8 when Police Provincial Director Senior Superintendent Rosueto Ricaforte took office.
Ricaforte, appearing before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Friday for an inquiry in aid of legislation, said the reported resurgence of crimes and jueteng, admitted the number of shootings can be considered high under his watch, but quickly added that the situation is being addressed.
The police provincial director, however, stressed that none of the recorded homicide and murder cases can be considered extra-judicial killings.
Of the 23 shooting incidents recorded, eight were perpetrated by suspects riding in tandem on motorcycles, a tactic that guns-for-hire are believed to carry out.
Appearing before the SP for the first time since he took over the helm of the Pangasinan police, Ricaforte defined extra-judicial killings as the killing of political, trade union, dissident and social figures, or even criminals by state authorities like the Armed Force of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police or vigilantes.
He noted that the term does not apply to the shooting incidents that happened in the province because these are mostly motivated by personal feuds.
2-STRIKE POLICY
Ricaforte assured that measures and counter-moves have been assiduously put in place by his office to put a stop to the spate of killings, citing in particular the two-strike policy that relieves chiefs of police after two shooting incidents in their area take place and remain unsolved after 30 days.
Last week, the police chiefs of Bayambang and Bani were relieved under the two-strike policy.
JUETENG
When Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. asked about reported resurgence on jueteng operations in the province, Ricaforte responded that there are attempts by certain persons to resume the illegal numbers game in some parts of the province but the police “were able to thwart it or prevent its resurgence or operating fully”.
Ricaforte reiterated his earlier statements to the media that the reported jueteng operations are the small-scale “guerilla” type that moves from one place to another, which he said demands intensive intelligence operation on the part of the police.
On the campaign against illegal drugs, Ricaforte said the police are registering numerous successes, citing that on Thursday night, they were able to neutralize two drug pushers in Dagupan City who were also suspected of being connected with a gun-for-hire syndicate.–LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
