When we say a person is a suspect in a crime, does that automatically mean he really committed the crime?
According to the Merriam Webster's Dictionary, the word suspect is defined as "regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion," "to imagine to be guilty without proof". Another meaning from dictionary.reference.com, "to believe to be guilty, false, counterfeit, undesirable, defective, bad, etc., with little or no proof".
When our national reporters inform us of a suspect being shot dead by the police operatives, isn't it alarming? As what I've learned, and as to what schools keep on teaching, a suspect or a person remains innocent until proven guilty. Are we not observing this anymore? If someone will tell me that the police could have had some proof whatsoever then that must be reported to the public as supporting details . Now, if the reason for shooting a suspect is merely the instinct of a police, just because he or she thinks that a certain person committed the crime, then we are no longer safe.
Imagine yourself being accused of something you really did not do, aren't you allowed to prove your innocence? We are supposed to be privileged to establish our innocence. Isn't the shooting of a suspect of a crime without any proof also a crime? This, I think, must be a public issue.
Unless, our reporters are infected with wrong usage of words. But that's another story.
"...napatay ang pinaghihinalaang suspect..."
"...pinagbabaril ang hinihinalang suspect..."
"...suspect umano sa krimen sa..."
"...binaril ang mga suspect..."
See? These suspects are not yet proven guilty of the crime they're accused with.
I remember a scene in the movie Catwoman where all evidences point to Patience (Halle Berry) attempting to jump from a window to kill herself. It turned out that she was only saving a cat. Accusations, suspicions, but no proof.
Again, if news like this would still hit our television sets, we are no longer safe. Especially in the eyes of or in an event where police operatives and other people involved are looking for someone to point their fingers at.
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