Playing god

I have been a human rights addict for decades and I am saddened by the reported stance the Caloocan City prosecutor has taken on the killing of Kian Loyd delos Santos, 17 (who had dreamt of being a cop), now cut down in the flower of his youth (“Kian could not be that innocent, says fiscal,” News, 8/20/17).

No prosecutor should lawyer for killers, but should follow the evidence. Clearing without due process is not the way to go. It is as bad as condemning without due process.

I could be a Yellow, and proud of it, who, during the Dark Years, did not hesitate to defend Natdems, Socdems, Gad-Dems, Let-Dems, et al., if there was a showing of military or police abuse.

I suppose I was Polka Dot.

We had in Marcos a hypocritical rule-of-law advocate. Now we have a vocal “kill-pa-more” leader, ready to pardon cop-killers found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by the courts.

Rhetoric has a powerful effect on human conduct.

No one should be encouraged to play god and decide who will live or who will die.

The cycle is said to be savagery, civilization and decay. Shall we stay in the second even as our values, systems, processes and institutions are getting pummeled and pilloried from pillar to post?

R.A.V. SAGUISAG, Palanan, Makati City