Watchmen with computers better off than Malabon cops

In the city of Malabon, the barangay tanods are better off than the police when it comes to equipment.

Watchmen of Barangay Potrero boast of a computer set, including a webcam, but investigators of the Station Investigation and Detection Management Section (SIDMS) of the Malabon City Police Station have virtually nothing to speak of.

A police source told The STAR that at one time, they were deprived for a week when the only unit conked out.

Another source said he has been at the SIDMS office (with 13 investigators literally fighting over one typewriter) since 10:30 a.m. yesterday, but it was well over several minutes past 1 p.m., after over three hours of waiting, and the papers he needed have not been finished yet.

He said the irritating delay was not because the officers were not attending to him, but because the one and only junk piece that was mercifully still working was being used by another investigator.

"Hindi kulang sa serbisyo ang mga pulis. Kulang lang ang gamit. Mamatay-matay sa inis ang mga complainant sa tagal ng pag-aantay. Lalo na kung Lunes," he said.

"We have to and are obligated to finish the papers to avoid getting charged with arbitrary detention," one policeman said, adding that public service is really compromised and their work brought to waste in the long run.

Some police precincts, which have a lesser paper work load, are lucky to be equipped with at least one unit, the source noted. Most reports are processed at the police headquarters and so they deserve to be given priority, he said.

At present, the unit at headquarters has only one computer, with a busted printer yet, and users have to fall in line to be able to use it. Otherwise, they are forced to use the only computer at the office of the city police chief, courtesy of Senior Superintendent Moises Guevarra.

The only other working machine is an Olympia typewriter, salvaged from City Hall five years ago.

Sources said some of the computers in the other police precincts are "misplaced," in the sense that they only serve to distract the police when they are tempted to play internet games when bored.

The cops also pitched in for the plight of the Women’s and Children’s Desk (WCCD), a separate unit consisting of five personnel.

"Matindi sila. Walang gamit. Silya, mesa, bentilador, tapos, wala na," the source said.

The unit is also queuing up at the SIB just to use the unit’s lone typewriter, they told The STAR.

"Pumipila rin sila dito," one cop said.

A barangay watchman was assisting complainants in the filing of charged before the police investigation unit when chanced upon by The STAR yesterday.

"Mabuti pa pala kami. Yung isang computer, sa amin (tanod) lang talaga," said the source adding that the five computers at the barangay hall were bought out of available barangay funds.

"At may webcam pa. Pag may huli, kuha na agad namin," said the source.

"Dito, nangagahoy pa kami ng litratista," the police at the SIDMS said.

After their pleas have fallen on deaf ears and unseeing eyes, the Malabon cops are seeking "extra-official" means to solve their problem. They are optimistic their appeal for two or more working units, complete with printers, will get results soon.