Page 38 - SEPTEMBER 2017 B ISSUE

38 www.hello-philippines.com NEWS September 2017 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition

MEL STA.MARIA

INDIFFERENCE TO RIGHTS OF
OTHERS ENDANGERS OUR OWN
“THE protection of fundamental civilian attire to the area where he was there seems to be no end in sight.
liberties is the essence of constitutional shot dead. Worse, the rhetorics accusing human are all criminal conspirators. And in Grieving parents of the ill-fated Kian delos
democracy. Protection against whom? rights advocates as “obstructionists” conspiracy, the act of one is the act Santos cry out for justice. His mother, an
Protection against the state” – the Also, witnesses said the boy was and threatening to include them in of all, despite their absence from the OFW, rushed home on news he had been
words, 30 years ago, of Fr. Joaquin frisked but police found nothing. And the death-list suggest that the killings scene of the crime. gunned down by cops. News5 video grab
G. Bernas, S.J., one of our greatest before his death, the boy was seen will even escalate.
constitutionalists, in his sponsorship beaten up. Alarmingly, the perception of such fundamental policy at every
speech of the Bill of Rights of the 1987 When government agents of impunity also rules the day – opportunity.
Freedom Constitution. (See Record of Kian’s death is just the latest in what admit that they are the killers, the emboldening the executioners. Human
the Constitutional Commission, Vol. 1, appears to be a “programmed” killing presumption of innocence is gone. The lives are no longer valued. They are And so Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ’s
p. 674; July 17, 1986). of those implicated in drugs, regardless burden of evidence completely shifts snuffed out as if some quota had to warning comes to mind – made
of degree of proof and however they to them to prove self-defense. The be attained, then maintained and 30 years ago – that the State, more
The Bill of Rights is that part of the have been labeled: users, pushers or killers must now rely on the strength gruesomely increased. Consequently, particularly its agents from the lowest
Constitution which guarantees, among suppliers. of their own proofs in view of their the environment does not feel any safer. to the highest ranking officials, may
others, that “no person shall be deprived own incriminating admission. Like any Terror is engendered, not by common be the greatest aggressors imperiling
of life, liberty and property without due On August 18, 2017, the Inquirer other confessed killers, their excuse of criminals, but by the government or the people’s lives and liberties. We can
process of law, nor shall any person be reported that: “The Philippine National “nanlaban” will not and should not be a number of its agents. For them, the only hope that we are not witnessing
denied the equal protection of the law.” Police (PNP) has said that 32 people readily accepted. constitutional mandate for the State a prophecy unfolding before our eyes.
It further provides that “the right of the were killed while 109 drug suspects to value the dignity of people and But as the number of killings escalates,
people to be secure in their persons, were arrested in the simultaneous And even if there is “nanlaban”, guarantee full respect for human rights that hope is fast diminishing.
houses, papers, and effects against “One Time Big Time Operation” by its invocation alone cannot free is a meaningless platitude – exhibited
unreasonable searches and seizures of the Bulacan police on August 15. Aside them from criminal liability for in their uninhibited scorn and mockery It is time to be more active in
whatever nature and for any purpose from those in Bulacan, suspected murder. These state agents must shouting out our disgust to stop the
shall be inviolable”. drug personalities who were killed additionally prove that the means bleeding and the killing. As I have
in Manila have reached 26 after the employed to repel the unlawful always said, in being indifferent to the
The news the past week has been Manila Police District’s (MPD) “one- aggression (“nanlaban”) must have human rights of others, we are also
dominated by the story of how state time, big-time” anti-drug operations on been reasonably necessary. Not endangering our own. n Atty. Mel Sta.
agents, particularly members of the Wednesday.” surprisingly, in this aspect, the
Caloocan Police, on the frayed, worn authorities are deafeningly silent, Maria | August 21, 2017, 2:51 PM
excuse of “nanlaban” [the suspect The death toll is at a condemnable especially in the case of 17-year-old
fought back], shot dead an 11th grade- point where no right-minded citizen Kian “Ian” Loyd Delos Santos.
minor, Kian “Ian” Loyd Delos Santos. can justify the way this government
However, InterAksyon reported that: has implemented its war-on-drugs- What is telling is that this “One time
Close circuit television footage from policy. In fact, that phase of giving Big Time Operation” is a government
the crime scene tends to cast the this administration the “benefit of “operation” – a state-sponsored project.
police’s account in doubt. The video the doubt” has long passed. The Whether or not it actually involves
shows a figure, believed to be Kian, stench of summary executions an “EJK” [extra-judicial-killing]
being dragged away by two men in based on suspicion has reached a component when it was conceptualized,
nauseating dimension. Mostly, it is those who operationalized it with EJK
the poor people who are killed. And

RLC renews deal with MMDA on Nova terminal, key component of system for EDSA-bound buses
MANILA – Leading property with the MMDA to ensure the success The partnership between RLC The Nova Public Bus Terminal to Baclaran, Ayala, Alabang –

developer Robinsons Land of each operation and the safety of its and the MMDA was first forged in opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Muntinlupa, Pacita Complex Laguna

Corporation (RLC) has renewed its passengers. “We are pleased to renew October 2004 with the signing of the The terminal covers 12,000 square and NAIA.

partnership with the Metropolitan this partnership with the MMDA. first MOA graced by the presence of meters of Robinsons Novaliches Since the opening of the Nova

Manila Development Authority Robinsons Malls remains committed the then-President Gloria Macapagal- grounds located at Brgy. Pasong Public Bus Terminal, the terminal

(MMDA) in operating the Nova to help the government in providing Arroyo with former MMDA Chairman Putik, Novaliches, Quezon City along has become a key component of

Public Bus Terminal, saying it was a safe, clean and convenient transport Bayani Fernando and Quezon City Quirino Highway. the MMDA’s Bus Management and

part of its commitment to support terminal for the commuting public,” Mayor Sonny Belmonte. Through Currently, around 24 bus Dispatch System (BMDS) that does

services that provide ease and said Arlene Magtibay, General this partnership, RLC aims to better companies regularly use the terminal not only regulate the number of Public

comfort to people . Manager of Robinsons Malls after the serve thousands of commuters and with 600 buses covering the routes Utility Buses (PUBs) in EDSA but also

RLC said it is working closely signing of the renewal agreement. travelers who frequent the terminal. coming from Fairview and going monitors the drivers manning them.

Signing the renewal agreement are (L-R) ASEC. Roberto RLC has already developed
T. Almadin, Asst. General Manager For Operation, several bus terminals near its malls
MMDA; ASEC. Jose Arturo S. Garcia Jr., Asst. General to address the public’s demand for
Manager For Planning, MMDA; Hon. Danilo Delapuz a better mode of transportation.
Lim, Chairman, MMDA; Ms. Arlene Magtibay, RLC’s Gen. These include the Interregional
Manager for Commercial Centers Division; and Mr. Irving
Wu, RLC’s Operations director for Luzon.

Terminal Hub at Robinsons Starmills

Pampanga which started December

14, 2014 and the Dumaguete City

Transport Terminal at Robinsons

Place Dumaguete which opened last

July 10, 2012. In Robinsons Place

Butuan, the Robinsons Transport

Terminal started its dry run last

August 2, 2017 and is expected to

be fully operational this month to

accommodate the needs of the public.

The Bogo Central Transport Terminal,

on the other hand, is expected to start

its operations this October. n InterAksyon

| September 10, 2017, 10:45 AM