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Second U.S. Embassy Report On Cebu City Killings
Second U.S. Embassy Report On Cebu City Killings
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2. (C/NF) Dep Polcouns and senior pol FSN visited Cebu (in
the central Philippines) February 3 -4. The city was abuzz
with discussion of a string of extrajudicial killings that
has taken upwards of 25 lives of alleged criminals in the
last two months (reftels). Dep Polcouns met with General
Florencio Gador, the PNP's Regional Chief based in Cebu,
to express concern over the situation and as k about the
GRP's steps to end the killings. Gador confirmed that the
PNP is actively investigating the cases. He confirmed that
he arrived in Cebu in early January with explicit
instructions from PNP Chief Edgardo Aglipay to get to the
bottom of the violence.
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A Divided City
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4. (C) The killings appear to have divided Cebu. Cardinal
Ricardo Vidal has publicly condemned the attacks on
several recent occasions, including in the homily of a
high-profile mass held during Cebu's annual fiesta in mid -
January. Cardinal Vidal told Dep Polcouns that "the taking
of lives -- even of those accused of crimes -- was wrong
and reinforced a culture of death." Vidal said that he d id
not know whether or not Osmena was involved, but it was
important that the mayor "disassociate the city and its
government from this black mark." Dep Polcouns noted USG
human rights concerns over the situation and expressed
appreciation for the Cardinal's strong stance. 5. (C)
Other politicians have also expressed concern over the
killings. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, a longtime
political opponent of Mayor Osmena, told Dep Polcouns
emphasized that "what was going on was wrong and must be
stopped." She noted that she had no legal authority to act
within Cebu city limits (she governs areas outside of the
city), but added that she had advised Osmena "to clean up
the situation." Vice Mayor Michael Rama said separately
that "Cebu has never had such violence" and that he was
"embarrassed for the city, which was losing its good name
domestically and internationally." Rama claimed that he
had urged Osmena during a personal conversation to take
action to halt the killings. According to Rama, Osmena
would not agree to do so and would not condemn what had
happened, but he did not admit responsibility.
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Comment
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Ricciardone