Stop vigilante killings, and keep families together
Jan 30, 2006
Family unity and a stop to vigilante killings were at the core of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal’s challenge during the 440th celebration of the feast of the Señor Sto. Niño yesterday.
(Sun Star, January 16, 2006) “Pit Senyor! Rejoice and be glad as Filipinos celebrate with great pride the 440th feast of the Sto. Niño. Labaw nga magsadya ang mga Sugbuanon kay ang Cebu mao ang (Cebu has more reason to celebrate as the) cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, which in turn is the cradle of Christianity in the Far East,” he greeted the thousands of devotees gathered at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center.
“Magduol na unta ug dili na magkalagyoay, mag-hinigugmaay ug dili mag-away ang mga pamilya (May there be unity and love in the family),” he said.
Driving home his point, Cardinal Vidal congratulated 10-year-old Grant Dosdos, winner of the 26th Cebu Popular Music Festival held last Friday, for an uplifting rendition of the song “Tatay, Pauli Na (Father, Come Home).”
The song, a composition of Dennis Gregory Sugarol, talks about a child’s longing for his father who is working abroad.
Criticizing once again the continued killings of suspected criminals in Cebu, Vidal said, “It’s a big sin...pagpusil patay bisan kinsa pa ang nag-inspire (killing a person, regardless of who inspired it), even if it’s meant for peace and order,” he said.
After hearing about Cardinal Vidal’s message from reporters, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted he may have inspired the vigilante killings in the city, but that it was unintentional.
“I think you inspire it not by intention. It’s on hindsight that somebody got inspired. So does it mean that Clint Eastwood also committed a sin when he inspired some people by doing all those action movies?” he said.
“I’m just being candid but there was no intention to inspire (the vigilantes) when I had all the policemen go on the offensive,” he added.
In December 2004, Osmeña announced he would give a cash reward to any individual who could “neutralize” anyone caught committing a crime.
The vigilante-style killings, which claimed 108 lives at the end of last year, began soon after the mayor’s pronouncement.
He later admitted that his statements may have inspired the executions of suspected criminals, but stressed that he does not support it. But Osmeña has also said in interviews with reporters that he wants criminals shot.
Osmeña said yesterday that it is upsetting that there seems to be the promotion of a culture where the policemen have to face a legal battle for doing their job, as in the case of PO1 Jerome Java, since this can result in the lack of professionalism among law enforcers.
He added that policemen should not be sanctioned for responding to alarms, especially if it’s a legitimate operation.
Thanks in part to police preparedness, the weeklong Sinulog celebrations were not marred by any major crimes and crowds felt safe enough to wander the streets.
As early as 3 a.m. yesterday, people were already inching their way inside the Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center for the 4 a.m. mass. The crowd swelled for Cardinal Vidal’s mass at 6 a.m. Some devotees had spent the night around the basilica.
The entrance gates of the basilica were shut thrice as the crowd became unruly, though. Devotees pushed and shoved to get in.
Yet there were festive notes too. Thousands of balloons were released as the song “Bato Balani” was sang, and people waved their hands in praise.
Before the end of the mass, Vidal gave devotees his apostolic blessing, as endorsed by Pope Benedict XVI, in honor of the cardinal’s jubilee celebrations in 2006.
“I hope and pray that our joy for the Sinulog celebration will continue throughout the days of 2006,” said Vidal.
The archbishop described yesterday’s gathering of devotees, who had to wake up extra early to hear the mass, as an “act of faith.”
Stop vigilante killings, and keep families together