The Philippines is fast becoming the “unsolved crime capital” of the world because of the inability of law enforcement authorities to address the increasing incidence of killings in the country. Claiming that 80 percent of criminal cases remained unsolved, Rep. Bienvenido Abante challenged Saturday the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit a list of the cases it solved. Abante, chairman of the House committee on information, made the challenge after another mediaman was gunned down in Cagayan de Oro City Friday. “The Philippines has become notorious for unsolved crimes. It's scary because it's so easy to kill people yet nobody is being punished,” he said. He said the ambush of RMN Radio reporter Nilo Lavares will just be added to the growing list of unsolved cases. Lavares survived the attack but is in critical condition in a hospital. If the police could not solve celebrated cases, what could ordinary people expect from them? Abante asked. He said that if the culture of impunity persists, criminals will be emboldened and it will have a lasting effect not only in the country but also in the international community. Meanwhile, two senators urged Malacanang to put a stop to media killings, following the attempt on the life of Lavares. Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the unhampered violence gripping the nation is a slap on the face of the government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “I condemn the shooting of radioman Nilo Lavares. Violence against journalists goes on unabated. The government should see to it that culprits are punished,” Pimentel said. Sen. Francis Pangilinan blamed the PNP for the incidence, saying it failed on its duty to protect the people and facilitate delivery of justice. “This is a slap on the face of the PNP and the Arroyo government. It is also an indication of the failure of our justice system because of the unsolved or pending cases of killings in the media,” Pangilinan said. -
