Cops and robbers

 When we were kids, we would play cops and robbers. The line was quite clear; the dichotomy rigid, it was easy to tell one from the other. You knew you were the good guy if you were the cop and vice versa.

Today, however, our cops don’t seem to know their mandate anymore. They’re supposed to protect citizens.

Instead, we’re witnessing more abuse, impunity and brutality from police and recently, from an ex-policeman. I am referring to the ex-cop caught in a road rage video hitting a cyclist on the head and pulling out a gun.

We haven’t even fully addressed the growing incidence of policemen killing teenagers – from Kian delos Santos to Jemboy Baltazar.

Some of our policemen today are no different from robbers and thieves, stealing our right to life and liberty; even our right to bike in our roads.

“What is happening to our country, general?” It’s the same question that then lawmaker Emmanuel Pelaez, also a former vice president, asked General Tomas Caringal in 1982. Pelaez was shot by gunmen as he was on his way home. He survived after spending two weeks in a hospital but his driver died instantly.

What, indeed, is happening to our country? The question plagues us even today.

It’s good that lawyer Raymond Fortun brought the matter to social media. Now we all know what happened. Fortun also vowed to bring the ex-cop to justice.

It’s also good that Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said she would not allow the incident to be whitewashed. She urged the cyclist to come out, promising to protect him and his family, so that justice is served.

The city government, she said, would assist the cyclist, should he come forward, in filing charges of grave threat, slander by deed, reckless imprudence, physical injuries and violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act against the gun-trotting ex-policeman.

The citizens are tired and angry and are turning to social media for justice.

I am sure there are many more deaths and many more incidents of grave abuse of power that we don’t know about because they weren’t caught on video.

We all must fight this culture of impunity that is now plaguing our society.

And yet this isn’t just about abusive policemen or ex-policemen.

Share the road

It is also about respecting bikers and sharing the roads with them. Let’s keep in mind that between a biker and a motorist plying our roads, the biker is certainly doing more for the environment than any other motorist on the road.

It’s also about irresponsible use of guns. Owning a gun is a tremendous responsibility. We cannot allow guns to be in the hands of people who would not hesitate to pull it out in an instant and in the face of helpless individuals.

It’s also about a tired citizenry; of people so frustrated over so much injustice in this country, especially committed against ordinary Filipinos.

The ex-cop said the public doesn’t know the rest of the story. Yes, we don’t but there can never be any justification for that moment he pulled out a gun on a helpless cyclist.

As Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said: “For the sake of a peaceful and orderly society, we cannot allow a culture of impunity. We cannot allow bullies to just go around intimidating people with deadly weapons. There must be consequences here.”

I agree. And if I may add, we cannot allow barbarians in our midst.

Teen sex in international school

Speaking of justice, a community of parents whose sons and daughters are studying in one of the international schools in Metro Manila are outraged over an incident of sexual misconduct in the campus.

Two grade school students, one male and one female, both in their early teenage years, were caught by school authorities having sex inside one of the lavatories in the campus, according to an incident report.

The parents are disturbed over what happened and even more surprised that the students involved were accepted to proceed to the next grade level for this school year despite what happened.

The concerned parents argued that sexual misconduct is counted as a grave offense in the parent-student handbook of the international school.

They believe something must be done and that school authorities should not sweep the scandal under the rug.

The parents also argued that sexual misconduct is a serious offense that can endanger the reputation of the school and the well-being of other people.

This incident reminded me of stories of sexual harassment in another school, this time involving a teacher and a student.

In this case, the school allowed the teacher to continue working in the school.

It is shocking to hear stories such as this. A school is supposed to be the second home of students.

It must be an environment where students feel comfortable and free to learn from both their teachers and classmates.

Let’s keep our schools safe at all times.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.