Soul-searching time for Manila policemen

When ordinary mortals are preparing to go to the beach for the holidays, the members of the Western Police District (WPD) are now gearing up for their annual observance of the Lenten season.

The WPD will have its own Palm Sunday reenactment and Pabasa, a tradition remembering Jesus Christ’s Passion, next week as part of the program of the police force’s moral and spiritual upliftment.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said the undertakings are part of the Letter of Instruction (LOI) Pagpapala from Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., sent to all policemen nationwide.

"In the observance of the Lenten season, the WPD will undertake activities for moral and spiritual upliftment of its uniformed and non-uniformed personnel," stated the LOI Pagpapala.

Aside from the reenactment of Palm Sunday or the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem on April 13 and the traditional Pabasa from April 13 to14, the WPD will also remember the Lord’s Last Supper and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on April 17; Station of the Cross on April 18 and Easter Sunday on April 19.

"Our policemen have been hard on criminals the whole year but this time we also want them to enhance their moral and spiritual side," a police official added.

Senior Superintendent William Coronado, WPD-Directorial Staff chief, instructed all of the Manila police’s 11 stations and other divisions to participate in the activities.

Coronado said all WPD policemen had their recollection last April 5, which he said was the PNP leadership’s way of preparing their members for Lent.

For years, the WPD has been doing the traditional Pabasa or the reading and chanting of Christ's Passion, remembering the life and suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

Bilibid guard shoots neighbor dead

In another development, a guard at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) allegedly shot and killed his neighbor over a dispute about a barbed wire fence in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Saturday night.

Police identified the suspect as Rufino Sandoval, 45, a prison guard residing at the NBP compound.

Victim Remigio Mentino, 36, a construction worker, died of a gunshot wound in the head.

Senior Police Officer 2 Delfin Salaria said Sandoval and Mentino reportedly had a long-standing argument about the barbed wire fence between their houses and that Sandoval had threatened to kill Mentino in the past.

At the height of another argument last Saturday, Sandoval apparently made good his threat.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The suspect was arrested at around 9 a.m. yesterday in his house by SPO2 Angel Nieves and PO2 Joven de la Cruz.

A .38 caliber revolver was recovered in his possession. – Cecille Suerte Felipe and Nikko Dizon