Lim calls for drastic action vs misfits in police service

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday said drastic actions must be applied against misfits, especially if they are members of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Lim said those holding key positions in the MPD should not be overly protective toward their subordinates, especially those committing serious violations of the law.

In his message during the MPD’s 110th anniversary celebration yesterday, Lim called on its officers and members to stick to their oath and always consider and respect their uniform, their colleagues, and the force they are serving before even thinking of committing any violation of the law.

Lim also urged the police to appraise recent events, which have eroded the public’s trust in law enforcers.

“As long as you comply with the spirit and letter of your oath, nothing untoward will happen but once you deviate from it, that’s when everything starts crumbling down,” he said.

Lim said the problem with the police is that the image of the whole force is tarnished whenever some of their members have done something wrong.

He said the police must begin the New Year right by redoubling efforts in serving the public with utmost fidelity and giving them the full protection of the law and all possible assistance expected from them by the citizens whom they are duty-bound to protect.

“The officers and men of the MPD must never allow the so-called ‘hoodlums in uniform’ to prevail within the police force,” Lim stressed.

The MPD is now on a manhunt against one of their colleagues who raped and robbed a woman inside the MPD headquarters in United Nations Avenue, Manila.

PO3 Antonio Bautista Jr., who went on absent without leave (AWOL) after a female vendor accused him of raping and robbing her inside one of the offices of the MPD headquarters in Dec. 31, has been charged.

“What happened is inadmissible. We cannot close our eyes on these kinds of abuse of authority,” Lim said.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said cases of rape and robbery have already been filed against Bautista before the Manila prosecutor’s office. His firearm was confiscated through his wife and administrative charges for grave misconduct have also been filed against him.

Bautista, who was assigned at the follow-up section of MPD-D2, was assigned at the district headquarters special unit when the alleged crimes happened.

No numbers game in Manila

Meanwhile, Rongavilla assured that Manila will remain jueteng-free despite the reported resurgence of the illegal numbers game in other cities in Metro Manila.

“The one-strike policy against jueteng is still in effect. No one will be spared if jueteng operation is found in their areas of jurisdiction,” Rongavilla said, adding that Manila is still jueteng-free due to the active monitoring of police officials who fear the “one-strike” policy of Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo.

There were reports that jueteng is back with impunity in many provinces and cities nationwide including Metro Manila.

A Manila intelligence officer has confirmed that financiers of the numbers game have expanded its operations despite government crackdown.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that besides Muntinlupa, Marikina, Pateros, Las Piñas and Taguig, jueteng is active in Laguna and Rizal provinces, with the alleged blessing of local police and government officials. 

The source said jueteng operators such as Allan Munti, Cris, Emily Tisay, Lando and Arujado are reportedly responsible for weekly payoff on ranking local and police officials who receive from P50,000 to P75,000. 

The group of gambling operators was allegedly in connivance with a certain Tata Tom, who reportedly wields strong connection with local officials, particularly in Laguna, and is in charge of distributing weekly “payola” to selected Camp Crame officials, according to the source.