PNP: Violent and confused / Department of Division

In the last 24 hours I have seen and heard members of the Philippine National Police doing things enough to convince me that they can no longer be considered "Peacekeepers, law enforcers or public servants".

Thanks to the Arroyo administration, they not only reverted the PNP into the lazy, corrupt, and inefficient organization that Ping Lacson managed to kick into shape, this administration because of its patronage politics and perpetual payback for support has transformed the once glorious service into a crime solving entity that operates on the basis of bounty and opportunity.

The once noble and idealistic leadership has been replaced by PNP officers who now exert more effort developing media connections, media exposure, and image building. Out in the middle of nowhere they hold press conferences, radio interview to extol their virtues, their achievements while doubt and greed swarm over bounties and rewards that are given. The PNP has in fact commercialized what they are already paid to do . . . catch criminals.

Instead of waiting for glory and honor to come their way, these gluttons for promotions now have handlers and go-betweens who systematically and periodically arrange interviews, and coverage.

All these for self-promotion and career promotion.

And as they climb the internal ladder, they curry favor with businessmen and politicians alike just to insure that when there are no more steps to climb in the ladder, they could insure some other government position such as ambassador, undersecretary, director, consultant, etc. . . .

The PNP call themselves law enforcers: What laws and whose laws do they enforce?

Watching the conduct of the Special Action Force or SAF of the police in Iloilo, it is clear that the PNP has forgotten that the police is a CIVILIAN organization.

It is clear that the SAF contradicts and opens to abuse, the civilian character of the PNP. Automatic rifles, combat uniforms, and a very combative and violent state of mind that comes with their training has no place within a civilian force. The indoctrination and training of these forces are reminiscent of Hitler’s Nazi Germany!

I have no love lost for activists who break the laws willfully, who cast negative images and derogatory remarks upon the nation. But I certainly will not shut up while the police beat up defenseless women on the head!

Watching the Manila police crowd dispersal unit, it makes me wonder why they even wait until things go from push to shove?

If would-be demonstrators can’t show a permit, just arrest them! What is there to negotiate? If the law says no permit-no rally, then that’s the law.

The police don’t negotiate with pick pockets, rapists, or terrorists, why make an exception? Why give false hopes and even worse false impressions of respect and consideration, if in the end the police STARTS the pushing, the shouting, and finally the bloodbath from bashed heads!

Dispersal and bloodshed prove to people that those in charge, FAILED to do their job correctly and clearly, and cleanly. A dispersal shows a failure of intelligence, preparation, and protocol. When talking ends with head-bashing ALL THE TIME, it is clear that Manila’s finest has lost control.

We are drifting dangerously close to a point where the police are becoming confused in their being, duty, and job. The confusion comes from police officers wanting to be promoted, wanting to please their masters, and pressuring their command to hold the line, deliver the goods, and impress the audience.

In their confusion, we now have young police officers bashing and beating, buying and pleading for promotion, and selling their souls and ideals because those before them sold their honor and their souls.

With every assault, with every beating we come closer and closer to the point where violence begets violence. For now, there are still people who turn to courts and there are still many judges and justices who dare say to the powers that be that they have crossed the line.

But if we do not take caution, if we do not heed the cries and see the blood on the streets, there will be more. Ask those who witnessed the First Quarter storm, the violence and shootings in front of the Old Congress, the shootings in the Diliman campus.

They all started out as rebellious idealists, misguided communists, noisy activists. But revenge comes when matters are personal, when the violence is personal. To the police back then it was not personal. To the victims it was personal.

The PNP has to redeem itself with honor, it must begin with a leadership that must work for a civilized solution and respect for personal liberties and faith in established institution.

Mao Tse Tung was mistaken when he said "Power comes from the barrel of a gun."

Real power is to cause change through reason. Real power comes from having wisdom.

* * *

The second wave of attacks from the DILG has once again garnered Sec. Ronnie Puno sufficient coverage and exposure to win him the undivided support of Malacañang and free publicity when he runs as congressman somewhere in Antipolo.

The strange thing I noticed about the whole thing is how Puno and the DILG has succeeded in becoming the DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL DIVISION, DISTURBANCE, AND HOSTILITY.

So far they have caused deep divisions in the communities of Baguio, Batangas, Iloilo, Pasay, and a few others. Often enough the courts have restrained them finding lack of merit.

But what really seems to cause so much damage is the DILG’s lack of SOLOMONIC wisdom in appointing their allies to replace their political enemies.

Instead of appointing neutral, equally acceptable leaders, the DILG has thrown caution and wisdom into the air.

On the short term, it may neutralize Gov. Sanchez from supporting the son of a former Police General who’s now a cabinet member. The suspension may help elect the son of an overly-powerful cabinet member as the next Governor of Batangas. But in the meantime they have fooled another into believing he will be the anointed.

Sooner or later, all the scams will come out and when it does a little lady in Malacañang will be blamed for all the dirty linen. When the votes don’t come in because of all the betrayals, I hope the Little Lady will realize that all the President’s Men . . . were not.