Actor Jake Cuenca probably thought he was the leading man in an action movie scene when he engaged police forces in a car chase last week.
Apparently driving under the influence (of one thing or another), Cuenca bumped a patrol car in Mandaluyong City.
Instead of stopping, the actor sped away in his overly-adorned and overwrought Rubicon jeep with the police on his tail.
Most of the tires on his jeep were hit by bullets from pursuing cops.
A Grab driver was hit by a stray bullet fired by the police. It was not known as this column was being written whether the driver’s wound was serious.
After he was captured, was the actor subjected to alcohol and drug tests?
Did they inspect the vehicle for drugs or other contraband? They should always do that with any captured suspect.
Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo “Guilor” Eleazar, National Police chief, should be commended for placing under custody the policemen involved in the chase.
Like the actor they were chasing, the cops acted irresponsibly when they shot at the tires of the actor’s jeep when they could have radioed for backup cars to block the vehicle.
They’re lucky no pedestrians were fatally wounded.
* * *
Movie stars think that since they’re invincible when in front of the movie camera in the world of make-believe, they are also the same in the real world.
They can’t seem to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
The Cuenca affair is reminiscent of action star Robin Padilla’s caper in October 1992, when he was chased by the police after a hit-and-run accident.
Padilla’s sport utility vehicle (SUV) yielded assorted unlicensed firearms: a “baby” M-16, a .357 revolver, a .380 Pietro Beretta pistol.
Padilla thought that he would get away scot-free because he campaigned for then presidential candidate Fidel V. Ramos for the May 1992 elections.
However, FVR adopted a hands-off policy in the Padilla arrest and trial for illegal possession of firearms, leading to Robin serving time at the New Bilibid Prison for several years.
In October 1993, actor Eddie Fernandez, considered “bad boy” in Philippine movies in the 1960s, was shot dead by pursuing policemen after he didn’t stop at a police checkpoint.
He was suspected to be “high” on illegal drugs during the chase.
Eddie Fernandez, father of popular singer Pops Fernandez, was convicted of killing businessman Renato Pangilinan in a fit of jealousy in 1969.
Pangilinan was courting Fernandez’s movie sweetheart, Rosanna Ortiz, a bold star.
Fernandez was released in 1982 but was suspected of being involved in illegal drug deals.
On Oct. 3, 2016, actor Mark Anthony Fernandez attempted to elude a police checkpoint in Angeles, Pampanga. Authorities found marijuana in his car.
Mark Anthony Fernandez is the son of actor Rudy Fernandez with actress Alma Moreno.
Why do some movie celebrities in the Philippines and even in Hollywood get involved in crimes?
Because, as I said earlier, they still live in a world of fantasy even off-camera.
Why do many movie stars use drugs? Because drugs make them escape from reality.
* * *
Speaking of celebrities, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa wants to be a celebrity the wrong way.
Bato, who filed his candidacy for president, said he was ready to give way to presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Instead of being praised for his sycophantic statement, Bato may be considered a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), according to election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.
Macalintal said that anyone who files a certificate of candidacy with no intention of running should be considered a nuisance candidate.
* * *
Palace: No need for law on mandatory vaccination, read a STAR headline on Friday, Oct. 15.
If the government cannot force citizens to get vaccinated because there is no law for it, then the private sector can persuade people to get vaccinated.
Restaurants, barber shops, malls and private offices may want to require their customers or clients to show their vaccination cards and may refuse entry to those who have not been vaccinated.
There’s no law penalizing business establishments or private offices for not accepting clients or customers for one reason or another.
Business establishments are private property.
But the problem is not whether citizens want to be vaccinated or not; the problem is the scarcity of the COVID-19 vaccine.
* * *
Somebody at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas must have made a killing for including Starpay in the government’s ayuda or the pandemic cash assistance.
Starpay doesn’t have enough outlets to distribute the ayuda.
I suggested to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), source of the funds, to make the program inclusive, instead of exclusive.
By “inclusive,” I meant making Western Union, Tambunting, M. Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuiller, Palawan and other remittance outlets take part in the fund distribution.
The distribution of the ayuda could have been made much easier and faster because the above-named outlets have branches all over the country. They even have outlets in remote areas.
A DSWD official told me Starpay was chosen by the Bangko Sentral to distribute the bulk of the ayuda.
I thought that Starpay was owned by presidential friend Dennis Uy, but I was told that another group of individuals owns it. Its owners must be well connected.
* * *
It’s a pity Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo “Guilor” Eleazar will be retiring on Nov. 13, his 56th birthday. It is the mandatory retirement age.
Eleazar is probably the most beloved chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) because he’s feared by abusive policemen and gentle to law-abiding citizens.
A humble suggestion from this columnist: Have Eleazar replace Ed Año as secretary of interior and local government.
Año, who’s sickly and an incompetent DILG chief, can be given an ambassadorial post.