Only the conscientious few would bother to ask if Saad Samad Kiram, one of three remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits in Bohol province, was indeed executed by the police last week.
That’s because majority of Filipinos would dismiss Kiram’s death as befitting someone who is part of a group that has become the bane and scourge of peace-loving communities in the country.
There is an expression for it called “mirisi (serves you right),” and a lot of Filipinos would think Kiram deserved to die because he was among the several bandits who headed to Bohol to kidnap and sow havoc in the province and nearby areas including Cebu.
The circumstances behind his death are similar to those found in every summary execution or “mysterious disappearances” of suspected criminals, and Kiram is no ordinary criminal.
Since there were only two remaining Abu bandits and one of their benefactors happened to be brought to Camp Crame for questioning, there was very little chance for Kiram to escape even if the police used the usual route to deliver him to a more secure prison in Cortes town.
What was suspicious was the time of day — barely two hours after midnight — and the route followed by the police in bringing Kiram to the provincial police precinct.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) may wind up with more questions than answers in their investigation into Kiram’s death, and right now, all they’re getting are brickbats and jeering from those who believe Kiram deserved to be executed for his crimes against the Boholanos.
But even if they’re among the worst dregs of humanity, the Abu Sayyaf bandits can still be used to provide leads to the whereabouts of their cohorts as the military amply pointed out.
It’s too late in the day to blame the police for Kiram’s death, and if by criticizing how they handled it would mean drawing the ire and jeers of those supporting his execution, then so be it.
In driving the Abu Sayyaf bandits out of business and out of the country if possible, let’s not allow ourselves to degenerate into bloodlusted war freaks ready to pounce at the slightest provocation.
Again, to point out the obvious, Kiram’s death is a warning not only to the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits still hiding in Bohol province but to their leadership somewhere in Mindanao who may think of repeating their experiment in building a base in Bohol province so they can strike anywhere within Central Visayas especially in neighboring Cebu.
As to whether these bandits will heed it or if the surviving Abu stragglers will be forced to surrender, it’s still anyone’s guess. For now, these bandits know fully well that time and circumstances are not on their side and fighting the authorities is out of the question.
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