Bounty-Driven Crime Solution

The headlines are saying that there is now a P1.2-M reward fund for information leading to the solution of last month’s grenade bombing just outside De Ls Salle University while the law fraternities and sororities were making merry to boost the morale of their friends.

The bounty pot was started by a P200-K offer from the UTOPIA law fraternity of Ateneo (which reportedly counts no less than Chief Justice Fenato Corona as its most prominent ‘brod’).

The additional P1,000,000 has now been pledged anonymously.

CJ Corona has rightly denounced the bombers as “criminals without souls” and DLSU says it will no longer host the bar exams.

There are calls for the fiesta-like and violence-prone to be banned while UST and UP Diliman are being considered to host the bar exams.

The NBI is working with the Manila Police District, following the cue of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to carelessly narrow its roster of suspects to members of warring brotherhoods.

Filipinos have only but admiration for law student Raissa Laurel who lost both her legs barbarous attack but is determined to pursue her studies, drawing power from her faith in the Lord.

Indeed the resolution of the incident will bring justice not only to Raissa by the 43 others wounded in the bombing.

However, what worries your Midfielder is that is has seemingly become de rigueur for police sleuthing work to be prodded on with bounties.

What happens to the unpublicized suffering of ordinary folk whose loved ones
brutalized or even murdered by the ‘haves’ with no sympathizers putting up bounties or to not have ‘connections in high places’???
The news media do help considerably as in the case of the sensational but still dragging Maguindanao massacre and recent gang rapes.

But on a massive scale the families of countless destitute victims feel, and know, that police drag their feet or even withhold evidence unless their hands are greased and pockets are lined with offers of material reward.

In my book this is called crime solution for sale if not outright ‘extortional justice’.

ATENEO LEGAL EAGLES OFFER 200K REWARD FOR INFO IN BAR EXAM BOMBING CULPRITS

A leading group of alumni of the Ateneo College of Law is offering a P200,000 rewards for "anyone who can provide information that will lead to the early resolution, and apprehension of the suspect/s in, the bombing incident during last Sunday's Bar Exams."

Here is UTOPIA's press statement in full:

"The Fraternal Order of Utopia, a fraternity based in the Ateneo Law School, is offering a reward of P200,000 to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the early resolution, and apprehension of the suspect/s in, the bombing incident during last Sunday's Bar Exams.
Tony Bernardo, former Customs commissioner. Utopia condemns in the strongest terms the irresponsible act of the perpetrators which caused injuries and sufferings to many young people, whose aspirations to become lawyers have been adversely affected by this dastardly and cowardly act. Utopia hopes that those responsible for this unforgivable crime will soon be apprehended and brought to justice. Utopia commits its all out support to the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Supreme Court."


Refer to Tony Bernardo, (09178446887)
Chairman, Fraternal Order of Utopia Alumni Asoc.