Childish Outbursts vs. Crime and Community.

Here in the Philippines, and perhaps just about any other country in the world, the primary function of the police organization is to maintain public order, ensure safety and security, and prevent and investigate crimes. But through the years, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has gone beyond their traditional task of policing and crime control, gearing towards a community and service-oriented policing system. With the help and cooperation of local government units and the community itself, the PNP is slowly but surely reinventing its image to something more congenial and 'people-friendly'.

Police mascot.
Photo credit: Tayo Na, Valenzuela.

But what happens when local executives turn their backs against the police force for seemingly trivial reasons? It's mayhem, of course, with the safety and security of the community, and people's lives at stake. Case in point, this controversy between the police and Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro.

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde criticized a local chief executive for withdrawing the city government's support to the local police. Albayalde did not drop names, but National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar confirmed later on that the local official in question was Mayor Teodoro.

Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar and PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde.
Photo credit: Philippine Star.

According to Albayalde, the issue began when the former chief of police in the city was promoted to the next higher rank and moved to a different post. A new chief was then assigned to the city, and the mayor apparently got angry, perhaps thinking that he was kept in the dark while all this was happening.

Under the law, local chief executives have the prerogative to choose the chief of police in their cities or municipalities. However, Albayalde pointed out that there are instances when the PNP has to temporarily assign an acting police chief in their areas if the post has been vacated.

As a result, Albayalde said the mayor withheld assistance funds for the local police, told them not to attend flag-raising rites at the city hall, and went so far as to remove all hotlines of police stations around the city. The PNP chief called these acts 'childish', which is exactly what it is.

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde.
Photo credit: Philippine Star.

The Mayor is pissed that he was not kept in the loop. I get that - he has jurisdiction over the matter after all, aside from the fact that he is the highest governing body of the city. But to express his anger and retaliate by canceling the gas assistance for police mobiles and cutting off the hotlines in police stations is a little too much.

How are the cops supposed to respond to calls for help when the people can't even get in touch with them? How can you mobilize the cops when their patrol cars are running on empty? Who suffers the consequences of this 'childish' dispute? Certainly not the mayor. Not the police chief. Not the cops. It's the people who will experience negative repercussions for somebody else's actions. It's the people whom the police vow to serve and protect, the people who voted for the local officials, the people for whom the government exists.

In this day and age, the last thing we need are childish outbursts and trivial tantrums from people who should be governing in wisdom.

The Good, The Bad, and The Country.

"There will always be bad people in the world..." so goes this quote that I stumbled upon on the internet. And yes, that is true. In any profession, there will always be bad people - politicians, lawyers, government employees, doctors, actors, and even cops.

Oh, the irony.

Here in the Philippines, we have had our fair share of 'bad cops' - those who are abusive of power, corrupted by money, and evade agency rules and culture just to satisfy their greed. A classic example is this 'kotong cop' who tried to extort money from the family of a drug suspect.

NCRPO Chief Brigadier General Guillermo Eleazar berates
Police Corporal Marlo Quiebete for his actions.

Police Corporal Marlo Quibete was about to get away with Php 20000 in cash, aside from the motorcycle owned by the family of the drug suspect, but was foiled in the entrapment operations of the Regional Special Operations Unit. When NCRPO Chief Brigadier General Guillermo Eleazar came face to face with this 'rotten egg', he was not able to contain his anger and gave the latter a serious scolding, complete with finger-pointing and a barrage of expletives.

Sorry, not sorry.

I really can't blame the Chief, though. He has been working so hard to clean the ranks and rebuild the image of the Philippine National Police, only to be tarnished again and again by these scalawags. He's not sorry for what he did, and I totally understand that from a parent's perspective. I wouldn't tolerate my child's bad behavior, and if he needs to be punished, he will be.

Busted - Police Officer 1 Ferdinand Rafael.

Another case of 'bad cop busted' is that of Police Officer 1 Ferdinand Rafael, who was nabbed for trafficking and use of prohibited drugs. He too, received a rebuke for his unlawful actions. Similarly,  the two policemen were chastised for 'moonlighting' as escorts for a businessman in Pasay City. 

Busted for the unauthorized police escorting.

These 'bad cops' that I have mentioned have been booked and charged, and are now detained. Serves them right for going down the wrong path and choosing money and power over ethics and morals. Time and again, General Eleazar has warned the police force not to partake in illegal activities, otherwise they will have to face the consequences.

But like in dramas and movies, the good always outweighs the bad. There may be a few rotten apples in the barrel, but there are more good ones. And in the PNP, the 'good cops' get rewarded for their passion to serve, bravery in the face of adversity, and dedication to their work and the country.

Recipients of the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting.

Among those who received the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting (PNP Wounded Personnel Medal) are PO3 Christina Villanueva, PO1 Arman Cañezares, SPO1 Jerry Pascual, PO1 Jonathan Peralta, PO1 Marino Dulagan, and PO1 Leo Mar Orence.

Recipients of the Medalya ng Kagalingan.

Some policemen also received the Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Medal of Valor), the highest award of the Philippine National Police. These policemen are: Police Chief Inspector Sandie Caparroso, Police Chief Inspector Alfonso Saligumba III, SPO2 Emilio ABoyolen, PO3 Mario Maramag, PO2 Marlon Ico, PO2 Raymund John Sansano, PO1 Eustaquio Nuarin II, PO1 Francis Miko Bose, PO1 Rodel Sibal, PO1 Marvin Fang-asan, PO1 Roy Uanan, and PO1 Eddie-son Galpao.

Police awardees.

Looks like we still have more good men (and women) in the police force, and I see a glimmer of hope in this picture. Famous philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau believed that man is good by nature. I think so, too. 

What's in Your Bag?

I'll probably sound like The Old Man from Pawn Stars as I say this, but back in my day, partying was a lot more wholesome than it is now. Sure, we'd have booze and cigarettes at raves and concerts, and in the late 90's, that's as risky as it gets. Well, at least that was the case in the parties that I had been to.

Photo credit: NME Magazine.

These days, the party culture is on a totally different level. Partying now involves not just nicotine and alcohol, but also prescription medication and/or recreational drugs.

But what makes these 'party drugs' a lot more worrisome is that their presence and availability is not limited to parties or bars and clubs alone. If you're keeping up with the news, then you've probably heard of the recent arrest of two college students involved in illegal drug trade. Yes, college students, one of them already in his senior year.

Illegal drug substances amounting to Php 1.5 million were found
inside the condominium unit of one of the arrested college students.

This prevalence of 'party drugs' and other illegal substances among the youth is the mainspring of  NCRPO Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar's proposal of implementing random bag and locker inspections in schools. This proposition was made after the police chief received reports that even elementary students are involved in illegal drug trade. Yes, you read it right, elementary students - kids probably the same age as my son.

"The background is because there was a case, elementary students that were caught in possession of 20 or 30 sachets of marijuana na binebenta sa school at ginagamit pa nila so well that was the result of the inspection that [was] conducted by the teacher," Eleazar revealed.

NCRPO Chief Guillermo Eleazar inspects the illegal drugs confiscated during the raid.

Implementing the surprise inspections will help prevent the youth from getting mixed up with illegal drugs, Eleazar said, emphasizing that prevention is important. He also clarified that these random inspections will be done by the teachers and/or school officials, and not the police.

"I just want to clarify that even when I was still the district director of QCPD (Quezon City Police District), I have suggested that already to the district supervisors of DepEd in Quezon City but the idea is for them to inspect, not the police," Eleazar explained.

"So naisip ko na mas maganda siguro na the teachers have surprise inspection of the bags and lockers," he added.

Although many individuals, including parents, welcomed this proposal, there were many others who opposed and said that this inspection policy might allow Oplan Tokhang to victimize students. Even  Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones was against this idea, because according to her, "this violates the students' right to privacy".

What's in your bag?

And so despite its good intentions, and its objective of protecting the youth from illegal drugs, this proposal never saw the light of day. At least, not yet.

If DepEd and CHED will reconsider this suggestion and come up with a protocol for the inspections, then maybe we can actually nip the drug problem in the bud. We can keep kids away from these drugs, seek help for those who are already involved, and track down the source of these illegal substances.

"If we can inspect belongings at malls, why not in schools?" Eleazar reiterated.
The man has a point.

Wordless Wednesday #52 | Million People March.

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