In a span of two days last week two extra-judicial killings were carried out before the eyes of horrified witnesses in the streets of Tagbilaran City that may have earned for the city as a new haven for death squads. Surprisingly though, nobody whom I asked about their reaction to such killings expressed fear upon knowing that those who were summarily executed were somehow identified to be illegal drug personalities. Some of those I asked, in fact, clapped their hands as an expression of approval of the act which is clearly a human rights violation. A few weeks ago a radio station surveyed their callers on their views about a death squad coming to Bohol. I did not know exactly what the result of the survey was, but it would seem that the question has become a reality. Either that, or a war among illegal drug lords has ensued for territorial superiority. Either way is a source of concern for the provincial leadership under Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and the law enforcers led by the Police.

I clearly remember last year that the provincial government launched the non-killing Bohol Society because it believed that true peace and prosperity can only come or result from a society that respects and preserves human life no matter how bad or evil one human being can be. Symposiums for such advocacy were planned although none has yet materialized. History tells us, though, that killing is the normal course of things in places where illegal drugs have taken roots, either because the players have become too many and operations have become unprofitable, or because the police must do its job or face the sanction of the people. Legal procedures in curbing it has become no longer effective because the trade has established so many connections and safety nets to prevent even the police from exercising their mandate. And because the problem has become so rooted, even some of the policemen have become willing allies if not protectors of the drug lords.

The only way for the good policemen is either to risk their lives as in the case of SPI Cana or tacitly agree to the presence of vigilantes or death squads rather than doing it themselves in order to escape the ire of human rights advocates. The challenge has become more difficult for the leadership of the province, the city and municipalities. Even if the people approves of this type of addressing the problem of illegal drugs, government cannot support it, much more advocate it. They must therefore see to it that the perpetrators, whether they are the warring drug lords or the vigilantes are brought and tried before the courts of law as is proper in a civilized and democratic society. What is too painful, however, and this must be taken note of by all parents, is what illegal drugs can do to the family. For the parents of the Tare brothers, there is nothing more painful than to lose two sons one after the other in less than 40 days of the burial of the first. But unless parents exercise their duties as parents, more parents can experience the pain that the parents of the Tare brothers are feeling right now. Yes we know parents cannot do anything anymore when the children have come of age, but pain can be less intense if parents know that they have not been wanting in guiding their children to the right path of life.