A student’s death in Bontoc

EDITORIAL

A speedy, impartial investigation on the death of Stephen Bosneng Galidan, 19, second year student of the Mountain Province Polytechnique College who died at the Bontoc General Hospital while being treated Nov. 5 should be done to give justice to the victim and his family.

Five cops identified as SPO4 Rolando K. Bagangan; SPO4 Michael T. Napaeg; SPO3 Lester A. Faba-an, SPO2 Gaspar M.Suagen and PO3 Raul T. Fagsaoare now being investigated on the death of Galidan, a native of Bauko, Mountain Province.

Indeed, if found guilty, they should be held liable for their actions and sanctions imposed against them. 

For full details, the full story is on the banner story of this paper on page 1. It is but proper that investigation is being handled now by the National Bureau of Investigation to make parties feel there is impartiality in the investigation. Results of probes of law enforcement agencies who investigate their men suspected of unlawful acts are usually not given much credence by victims and their relatives as they belong to the same group or agency.

The credibility of the police has sunk so low during the Marcos regime due to atrocities like torture, murder and rape. After the Edsa Revolution, police and military officers and men have still been known to commit human rights violations against civilians, according to human rights groups.

At this time, even foreign human rights watchdogs are saying the human rights record of the administration is still way down due to atrocities of lawmen committing atrocious violations against civilians like killings, rape and torture.

In Northern Luzon, human rights groups have recorded recent cases of government enforcers torturing or killings civilians like recent cases in Bucay, Abra.

Indeed, if it is any consolation, an honest to goodness probe on the death of the Bontoc student should be done to show to the people that government is serious in stopping human rights violations committed by lawmen.

The pronouncement of Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez that he will not tolerate erring cops is welcome. Nerez recently headed a probe that resulted to the dismissal from police service of a cop who was charged for the murder of a bar owner in La Trinidad, Benguet. Five other policemen were suspended as a result of the case.

If police officials don’t tolerate abuses committed by their men, the people will have more trust in lawmen.