A member of the Negros Oriental provincial board, who authored the reward system ordinance during his stint as city councilor of Dumaguete, is urging the full implementation of the law.

Board Member Saleto Erames said Ordinance 73, otherwise known as the Reward System, will entice, hired guns to come out in the open, surrender, reveal the identity of his mastermind, and turn state witness.

He said the reward system was also introduced so masterminds will have second thoughts that their hired assassins may turn on them for the much lucrative reward.

Erames believes that the reward system is a powerful lever in the fight against crime.

He said this can be invoked by the gunman who is considered as the less guilty than the mastermind who has the evil mind and has the motive to kill.

Under the reward system ordinance, P100,000 will be given to a hired or induced killer who discloses the name and identity of the mastermind to the chief of police, the city prosecutor, or to any peace officer after execution of the order to kill.

The reward shall be tendered after the induced or hired killer qualifies, and actually testifies as a state witness against the mastermind whether the crime was consummated, frustrated or attempted.

Erames said mere reporting of the presence of new faces and suspicious looking persons in their neighborhood and the commission of any crime or the perpetration of any criminal activity, will entitle the informant P1,000.

A person who makes a valid citizen’s arrest will also be given a cash reward of P5,000, upon the recommendation of the chief of police and the city prosecutor.

Erames said, the reward system ordinance of the city was deemed approved on December 22, 2005, after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had failed to approve or disapproved the same after 30 days with the provincial board. In fact, the board has exceeded the 30-day limit by 50 days.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines Negros Oriental chapter is expected to sit down with Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria to discuss the mechanics of the ordinance.*JG

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