The preening of men in blue

MANILA, Philippines – If media has a lot to do with the spread of the messed-up image of men in blue, it is now doing the reverse through entertainment shows enhancing public perception.

PNP director general Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa showed his human side by appearing in Sunday PinaSaya’s Star Buzz segment with Ai-Ai delas Alas, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Barbie Forteza, ending it with a sincere appeal for support to the government’s anti-drug crusade.

The first thing that newly-placed Gen. Bato did was appear on television, particularly in a scoop interview with Kara David in GMA News TV’s News To Go and then charmed his way into winning in It’s Showtime’s Trabahula and dividing his P20,000 prize money. He’d even sing Willie Garte’s Bawal na Gamot on national TV.

So there is the small screen remake of the Fernando Poe Jr. classic into FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano as played by Coco Martin in the role of the no-nonsense PO1 Ricardo “Cardo” Dalisay who has a streak for odd cover-ups. Tackling the policeman’s heroism, ABS-CBN reinterpreted it to expose the good and evil sides of the current police forces.

Paloma, Cardo’s well-loved, cross-dressing character, faces off with sextortionist Ella with Vice Ganda in the role. Now peaking in the high-rating series, it is reality of online sex trade that frequently converts into blackmail.

While there are police officials and officers who are shameless law violators and criminal coddlers, their good counterparts whose heroic efforts to do their work despite the measly pay balance off the gross misperception. Is Gen. Bato set to appear in Coco’s anti-crime series since the actor paid a courtesy visit on him with director Malu Sevilla?

Umagang Kay Ganda, on the other hand, launched Gwapulis, the personality competition every Friday involving two officers from Philippine National Police. Showing their form in uniform, extraordinary skill and intelligence, well, just like a beauty pageant, the contest aims to show the contestant’s talent, strength and kind heart.

One of the Gwapulis judges besides ranking PNP officers is a bomb disposal expert, the fine-featured and chiseled framed PO2 Mariano Flormata Jr. a.k.a. Neil Perez who won the Mister International 2014 that predicts the startup of image models for police officers.

The Police Community Relations Group introduced the mascot PO1 Bato resembling no less than well-built but bald PNP chief complete with creaseless uniform in blue introduced by a Trumpets dance routine.

Then there is the puppet collective of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Dela Rosa, a drug pusher and user and also the comic strip Itaga mo sa Bato. Part of PNP’s all-out campaign against illegal drugs and criminality, they also promote love of the police, especially children.

Entertainment has never been used like now to clutch the public image of the police as a friendly security provider but more importantly a personal pride booster.