Senator Bong Go has expressed his support for the proposed implementation of the one-strike policy for police officers who fail to prevent illegal activities within their area of jurisdiction.
This comes after the recent spate of attacks on public officials, including the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, which claimed the lives of eight more individuals and injured seventeen others.
“Kaya dapat po ay mabigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng gobernador ng Negros Oriental, hindi lang po ng gobernador kung ‘di mga sibilyan na mga inosente. Paano na lang po ang maliliit na tao na walang kakayahan na proteksyunan ang kanilang sarili. Importante din po na dapat bigyan sila ng proteksyon ng gobyerno. Kaya po tayo may pulis to take charge po ng peace and order. Kaya po tayo may militar to secure us and our country,” Go explained.
The legislator believes that the implementation of the one-strike policy will ensure that all police officers take their job seriously and are accountable for any illegal activities that occur within their area of responsibility.
“Ako po, sang-ayon po ako d’yan… tama po ang one-strike policy,” the lawmaker said during an ambush interview after aiding fire victims in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City.
“Halimbawa, sa isang lugar, sa isang siyudad, sa isang probinsya, alam n’yo, kung ayaw ng pulis at ayaw ng mayor, ayaw ng executive, hindi talaga mangyayari (ang isang krimen),” the senator added.
He emphasized that the policy should not only apply to cases of killings but to other illegal activities.
Go cited a hypothetical example wherein if the chief of police or the mayor is not in favor of illegal activities like gambling, it will not prosper in the area.
He sees the one-strike policy as a warning to police officers to be vigilant and responsible in their duties, saying, “‘Yung one-strike policy, okay po ‘yun. Isang babala po ‘yun na ‘wag kayong magpalusot sa inyong lugar”.
“Itong pagpatay sa mga kababayan natin, mga officials, mga sibilyan… kapag nalusutan, dapat may managot.”
Go continued, “Itong pagpatay sa mga kababayan natin, mga officials, mga sibilyan… kapag nalusutan, dapat may managot.”
“So, para sa akin, agree po ako doon na pwedeng i-impose ang one-strike policy para mas lalong mag-ingat at mas lalong hihigpitan ng ating mga awtoridad ang pagpapatupad ng batas,” he concluded.
Following the killing of Degamo, Go strongly condemned the series of killings and attacks aimed at government officials and demanded justice be served against those responsible.
“Ito pong local officials ay nagtatrabaho po, nagseserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Sila pa po ang naging biktima ng karumal-dumal na patayan. Nakakalungkot po kaya dapat po ay matigil na po ito at mabigyan ng hustisya,” he said.
“Habang walang napaparusahan at walang mananagot, lalakas ang loob ng mga ‘yan.”
“Kapag walang mananagot eh patuloy po ‘yang masasamang elemento, mamamayagpag ‘yan. Dapat po mayroong managot, may mahuli, may makulong at mayro’ng maparusahan. Habang walang napaparusahan at walang mananagot, lalakas ang loob ng mga ‘yan,” Go stressed.
Meanwhile, he called on his fellow public servants not to be afraid to do their work for the people despite the attacks.
“Let us not (be) afraid in doing our work for our people. Let us not waver in our commitment as servants of the people. Instead, we must be more steadfast and more committed to do what we swore to do for our country and the Filipino people,” Go urged.
“Ako po ay naniniwala na kung panahon mo na, panahon mo na… Diyos lang po ang nakakaalam. Ako po ay magtatrabaho, gagampanan ko po ang aking sinumpaang tungkulin… Mag-ingat lang po tayong lahat. Habang ginagampanan po natin ang ating trabaho, mag-ingat po tayo. Ako naman po ay naniniwala na kapag maganda ang hangarin mo sa iyong kapwa, hindi ka pababayaan ng Panginoon,” he concluded.
