A Society Where (Innocent) Citizens Are Not Fearful Of Cops

by Discreet Serpent

This is not exactly a gay- centered article, but I couldn't help myself. Please bear with me.

Last September 1, I posted an article about a Twitter post showing an apparent shooting incident in Edsa, Metro Manila, Philippines. At the time, it was curious that only one person had any evidence to prove that the situation was real. The lack of "supporting evidence" has led a lot of people (possibly including the authorities) to believe that the photo was a hoax. It can be recalled that no immediate action was taken by the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) because there were "no reports" submitted to them.

The photo shows a white Toyota Fortuner surrounded by three vehicles (Toyota Hiace Commuter van, Honda Civic, and a black Toyota Fortuner). It also shows several men who seem be approaching the vehicle at gunpoint.

Recent developments

Since then, a few other witnesses have surfaced which prompted the local authorities to investigate the matter. Vigilant netizens have also demanded updates and additional information on the case. This eventually led to the investigation and arrest of 8 police officers and the implication of another officer. Most of these officers are assigned to the La Loma station in Quezon City.

The Chief Inspector was investigated after the silver Toyota Hiace Commuter van was traced to him via its conduction sticker. The other vehicles on the photo were also traced to some of the other suspects. These license plates and conduction stickers were identified after the Philippine National Police got hold of a surveillance camera footage as well as through the viral photo. The incident happened at the southbound lane of EDSA, only several meters away from Camp Crame (the Philippine National Police headquarters  in Quezon City).

image courtesy of philstar.com

What the suspects say

The Chief Inspector accused initially denied knowledge of the incident, but eventually claimed that they were on an official antinarcotics operation against the two victims. He was the one who noted down the name of the eight other policemen involved in the situation. There was no supporting evidence to prove that this was an official task, however. There were no records or blotter entries in the books.

What the victims say

The two victims (passengers of the Toyota Fortuner in the photo) claimed that they were brought to the La Loma station and detained for seven hours after the incident. They were not charged with anything, and released at 9PM. They said that the policemen took P2 million pesos from them as well as P119,000 from their bank accounts (via atm).

Rantings

Due process is yet to be given to the accused, and they will have their day in court. The justice system should be able to determine if they are guilty or not. Having said that, the impact to the public can not be ignored. It is a sad reality that the citizens of this country are wary and even fearful of the officers who are supposed to be protecting us in the first place. If we see cops on the road, we turn the other way. If we are not safe in their presence, then we can not feel safe at all.

image courtesy of sergiopaulino.com

Actions are being taken by the government to "purge" the law enforcement institutions of "rogue cops." I hear plans of streamlining the recruitment system and weeding out the "bad eggs" early on. There's even talk about academy classmates "ostracizing" those who were accused, essentially "denying their existence."  But I am not sure if these actions are enough. I myself have no solutions to propose, but I know that we should be taking more of a proactive stance rather than simply reacting after the fact. We can not afford to be victims first before corrective actions are made.

This is a serious matter that needs to be given serious attention. Sure, the issue gets a lot of media coverage now, but will this be forgotten once a "hotter" issue surfaces tomorrow? We are a nation known for quickly forgetting things; are we doomed to the same vicious cycle? If something like this can not be fixed internally, then perhaps bringing international attention could force our government officials to do an even better job.

I want to be able to walk the streets at night without fearing for my life. I want to be able to have a reliable social institution to turn to in case I need help or protection from dangerous elements. I want to be able to walk towards a police officer in the street, give him a genuine smile, and thank him for the security that he provides. As a tax payer, I deserve to have these things.