KEYS-TONG COPS AND THEIR POULTRY

One of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) best-guarded secrets is its so-called "poultry." This refers to a group of hardened criminals, some in death-row, who are maintained and protected by certain police officers, who can order them to commit such crimes as kidnapings, bank holdups, and even murders.

In sensational cases involving policemen, some "poultry" members are used as fall guys in which they are killed and blamed as the culprits for purposes of police cover-ups. Members of this group are convicts still in jail who are set free on criminal missions for the police brass. And because they are supposed to be in the can, these criminals possess the perfect alibi. They are also said to provide the muscle in police protection rackets that demand "contributions" from legitimate businessmen as well as drug and prostitution syndicates, notably those operating in the tourist belt and Chinatown.

The PNP has such a terrible image now that they must do something about it soon. In the past, people used to run to the police for help. Now, they run away when the cops are in sight. Take note of the following:

- Almost all PNP officers, national and regional, are in the payroll of jueteng lords with monthy tong running in the millions.

- A majority number of traffic cops are extortionists.

- Most cops have multiple families.

- Jeepney, taxi and bus operators give daily tong to traffic cops who use cigaret and sampaguita vendors as their collectors. "Barkers" are a favorite instrument of the police as well.

- One notorious police scam is the extortion of merchants bringing food from the provinces. A favorite target are vegetable trucks.

- When policemen go to cocktail lounges and karaoke bars, they don't pay for their drinks and force the GROs to entertain them gratis et amore.

- Police investigators have the nasty habit of pocketing evidence especially when what was confiscated are cash and shabu. Fact is, the main supply of shabu in the streets come from cops.

- When crimes are committed, especally in Chinatown, the victims don't bother to report to the PNP anymore. "What's the use?" They ask, when the cops will ask for gasoline money and for other expenses anyway. Plus, many fatalities in shoot-outs are kidnap victims themselves. Cops have a reputation of being trigger-happy, and many times, kidnap victims are shot and killed together with the criminals elements.

- The PNP make big bucks escorting funerals (this is not part of their job).

- A number moonlight as security detail for gambling lords. Some work as bouncers in nightclubs and bodyguards for politicians. (this is not their job too).

- They are notorious for third degree interrogations and many know about the infamous water cures and plucking of finger-nails.

- And if all else fail, they resort to salvaging.

It's high time the PNP leadership clean its ranks top to bottom. Otherwise, you leave citizens no option but to arm themselves and be sympathetic to vigilante groups. Self-preservation is still top priority. The irony of it all is part of it is protecting themselves from the police - who must always obey the law while enforcing the law.

(Image from www.philstar.com/)

REMEMBERING BLAS OPLE, REVIVING R.A. 7743

One of the most voracious readers among the nation's leaders is the late great Blas Ople whose passion for books is matched only by his passion for writing. The remarkable thing about him is that he did not reach college and his erudition came mostly from reading and spending most of his money on books.

As a member of the Marcos cabinet, he was considered an outstanding secretary with a brilliant mind that even President Marcos, one of the most intelligent leaders of this country, had to ask him to tone down on his scholarly themes so the other cabinet members could understand him. His legendary passion for books reminds me of one French author, Michel de Montaigne, also the mayor of Bordeaux, who was once asked if he were to choose which he would burn first, his books or his children, and without batting an eyelash, answered his children. But of course, that's one decision I totally do not agree with.

Not all Filipino children can be as gifted as Ople because of his love for books. This is more so because our poor children have no ready access to books and other reading materials. Sad to say, the construction of public libraries occupy the lowest priority among our government officials, majority of whom do not realize the value of books. Librarians are among the poorest professionals due to lack of job opportunities. Senators and congressmen should set aside funds from their multi-million pork barrels for the construction of public libraries. Tell me, do you have one in your neighborhood? I thought so.

On that note, what ever happened to Republic Act 7743 signed by former President Fidel Ramos in 1994, providing for the establishment of congressional, city and municipal libraries and barangay reading centers throughout the Philippines? I had earlier called for the establishment of rural libraries to promote the development of intellectual facilities of the people since we had noted the utter lack of such libraries not only in the urban but also in the rural areas.

The little-heard of and apparently unimplemented law mandates that the National Library, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government shall undertake the establishment of public libraries to serve all congressional districts, cities and municipalities and reading centers in all barangay units. The National Library shall also coordinate and organize seminars, workshops and other trainings for the professional advancement of librarians. It provides for appropriations from both the national and local government units to fund such public libraries and reading centers. Sad to say, a visit to most rural areas would reveal that public libraries and reading centers are non-existent.

Some officials are clearly sleeping on the job or simply cannot put it in their thick skulls that such libraries are vital to the moral and intellectual development of a nation. It's a pity that R.A. 7743 I believe has not been implemented. I was particularly impressed with the provisions on the functions of the libraries as:

- To make available to members of the community a wide array of reading materials including those prescribed by the Department of Education, and national newspapers of general circulation.
- To be used as venue for audio-visual presentations in the community and other kinds of exhibitions and activities, aimed at increasing the literacy rate, by government agencies, NGOs or private entities in the dissemination of information of general interest.

Remember, a well-read and a well-informed citizenry make for a strong and progressive nation.

But then again, can you blame a top spouse if his idea of a library is a collection of coloring books? I thought so too.

(Image from http://ilsdole.gov.ph/)

LOLO PEPE DECENTECEO, 97; ALFONSO DE VERA, 51; LIA ALLANA DE VERA, 7

I am writing this piece with a heavy heart. I just got back from the Funeraria Paz/Manila Memorial Park on Sucat to pay my respects to one of the dearest and sweetest persons I have ever met in my life - Felicisimo Decenteceo, who passed on peacefully the other day to be with our Lord who has most certainly prepared a wonderful place for him in heaven. He was a friend to all, stranger and acquaintance alike. A towering figure at the Silliman University, his second home. Lolo Pepe was a complete man and a compleat man, as well as a gentleman and a gentle man. He loved life, and life loved him back. Otherwise, he wouldn't have lived to reach a big number like 97. He was a faithful member of the International Evangelical Church of Alabang (IECA) and a prayerful man who knew his mission in life and lived it until the afternoon of December 4, 2008 when the Lord finally called him to eternal life. I salute Lolo Pepe knowing that I shall be seeing him again someday. But he is not the reason for my heavy-heartedness. It was another funeral on the ground floor, right below Lolo Pepe's room. A heart-breaking father and daughter funeral, innocent victims of brainless, trigger-happy Paranaque City PNP who killed them yesterday evening December 5 in a subdivision near Sucat just close by the old rotunda. Alfonso De Vera was 51, while Lia Allana De Vera was only 7. Now why do I say "murdered?" Because the PNP as usual, didn't do their homework on the rules of engagement. Imagine, a case of mistaken identity (again), this time an innocent man and an innocent and helpless child whose vehicle was peppered by murderous cops unschooled on proper procedure when conducting manhunt operations subsequently leading to a one-way target-practice. Did they really think that a 7-year old girl would be engaging them in a gun-battle? Bobo-cops, aren't they? And what were they thinking? These trigger-happy devils in uniforms must all be locked-up in jail for the rest of their lives. We prayed for Lilian De Vera, now a stunned and grief-stricken widow and mother whose husband and daughter were objects of a carelessly planned operations by the Paranaque Special PNP Team. Shame on you people. For a change, us citizens would like you all to be at the receiving end. As I was seated face-to-face with Lilian, holding her hand, my only prayer was for God to embrace her tight and never let go of her. It could have been anyone of us who have to face each day with the incompetence and stupidity and amateurish ways of our PNP. To catch a handful of Waray-Waray gang members, was it normal procedure for the PNP leadership to deploy a battalion of policemen? Shame on the PNP and shame on PNP Chief PGen Jesus Verzosa who had nothing better to say to the poor widow but "Sorry po, pasensiya na po, this is part of the risk during PNP operations..." Are these the same men who on oath swore to uphold the law and protect the citizenry? The same men who will now murder us on mere suspicion? What will the PNP spokesman say next? "Our policemen's lives were in danger as they were being shot at by the seven year-old girl who was indiscriminately firing her M-16 rifle at them..." We are not asking for justice for Lilian, her husband and their sweet daughter, General Verzosa. We demand it! Be a responsible true officer and gentleman, and not just some apologetic old boy scout. Give the De Vera family proper compensation for loss of income too. Well, next time when vigilante citizens hit on the police because of a simple case of mistaken identity, that's when they will feel how it's like to be innocent by-standers who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Where now does the PNP's code of Service, Honor and Justice fit in? Paranaque's Finest has now become Paranaque's Murderest.

(Image from ( http://wikipilipinas.org/)

KEYS-TONG COPS

With Christmas just around the corner, our policemen will again be wearing Santa Claus headgear as they patrol our urban areas, a reminder to us all that police visibility is a deterrent to crime. Is it really? Because a lot of times, it is our very own PNP who are the ones involved in the very crimes they were supposed to protect us from. On the other hand, take the case of the recent 'Euro-Generals' scandal led by PGen. Eliseo De la Paz. That really is the height of the PNP top officers' disregard for applied international law, and convinces everyone that their planned felonies have since gone global. Shame on De la Paz and party! Their Russian counterparts should have shipped them out instead to Siberia for some good old Russian police training and discipline. But since they're already home in the loving, caring arms of DILG Sec. Ronnie Puno, instead of the Santa headgear this Christmas, the DILG chief should lead by example, and then instruct them to follow him by wearing handkerchiefs over their faces with only their eyes showing. That would be more appropriate. And back here, our PNP should bear in mind always to obey the law while enforcing the law.

(Image from http://officer.com/)

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SONA (SCREW OUR NATION AGAIN?)

It's that time of the year once again when President Arroyo delivers her State Of The Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. This time, the Batasan Pambansa will be undergoing a major facelift just for Gloria - to the tune of P94 million in taxpayers' money. Yup, that amount could - again, build more toilets for a number of public schools all over the country where the ratio is one toilet per two thousand pupils. Imagine that amount just to please a pseudo-president? Speaker Prospero 'Boy' Nograles sure knows how to play his cards well wherever and whenever it's needed! After all, he has turned his back on former Speaker Jose de Venecia, regardless of all the favors he had gotten from the latter. For a man who only wanted so much to be mayor of Davao City, he sure has reached the top being the fourth most powerful official in the land. Who knows, he may be a Senator someday? As expected, Gloria's SONA will be filled once again with bloated figures, exaggerations, lies, empty promises and untruths. Reminder: When she delivers her message, watch her nose grow several inches longer.

(Image from http://www.abante.com.ph/)

ABUSE OF COMMEMORATIVE AND LOW-NUMBERED PLATES

Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. recently called for a ban on the issuance of low-numbered plates on vehicles of high-ranking government officials, but excluding the President and foreign envoys. He filed Senate Bill 1158 canceling all low-numbered car plates beginning from No. 2, all the way down to the numbers now being assigned to the cabinet and bureau directors. I support Senator Pimentel's bill because the issuance and the abusive use of one-digit (and even two-digit) plate numbers paints an ugly picture that top-level public servants are a special lot, giving them and their chauffeurs a twisted notion that their plate numbers are a license to break traffic rules, parking anywhere they like, including spaces reserved for the handicapped. Many government officials and middle-level bureaucrats today drive around like members of royalty in heavily-tinted vehicles sporting low-numbered plates. My pet-peeve are the not-so-honorable congressmen (including those who abuse vanity plates) with their No. 8 cars and their PGH100 or PPSA or PNPA commemorative plates. One sees them all over. But why has the LTO issued plates for congressmen now without the respective province and district indicated below, and not just the simple "Matatag Na Republika" or "Perlas Ng Silangan," lest they be covered with masking tape to escape identification and detection in the event of a traffic violation or altercation? Many relatives, in-laws and staff members of these congressmen fantasize being congressmen themselves and abuse these plates as well. There's always at least one in your community. It's a common sight these days.

(Image from http://www.pcij.org/)

PNP CARINDERIA - TODAY'S MERIENDA: MAKA-RONNIE NA, MAKA-PUNO PA!

Im not even a bit surprised at all that the PNP who stormed and destroyed (and looted) the Manila Peninsula Hotel during that l'affaire Trillanes were given awards and accolades for a job well done. Well, I have always said that the police must obey the law while enforcing the law. Did they? You be the judge. I spoke to a Manila Pen waiter recently and told me of seeing policemen carting away stuff they could get their hands on (they call it 'gathering of evidence') - laptops, towels, food, linens and even a shower cap! It's that 'culture of impunity' hounding us over and over again. So, why does DILG Sec. Ronaldo 'Ronnie' Puno have to add insult to injury by rewarding these pseudo-santa-cops led by PGen. Geary Barias when they already plundered the best loot of the day? You may have pleased your lady-boss, but you certainly angered the already pissed-off citizenry. Oh, by the way Ronnie, I heard you have a new laptop? A minor coincidence only perhaps?

(Image from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com)