PUNISHING THE innocent. This is the worst thing that could happen when trying to administer justice “swiftly.”
This almost happened to me after some self-styled berdugo tried to lay their hands on me recently. They must have thought they were assisting a man administer justice with their own hands for an offense he assumed I committed against his kin.
Before they could lay their hands on me, thank God, I was able to enter the safety of somebody else’s property in the neighborhood where I let things cool off.
I made it days after to the barangay where the investigator reluctantly entered my complaint in the blotter, upon knowing who I was up against. He even advised me to leave my city.
Despite the danger, I refuse to hide from them because I still believe in our law enforcers.
Under the Duterte presidency, I hope authorities will go after the bad guys so they won’t be able to terrorize people again. But, please, make sure that in the process of administering justice we don’t end up killing justice itself.
—CARLO RIVERA, Dagupan City