BODYGUARDS

High-profile public officials will surely make a big fuss about it if and when a crackdown (again?) on bodyguards and private armies are implemented. It is common knowledge that many national and local executives, acting like miniature monarchs, employ the services of armed-goons who terrorize the citizenry. Even the wives and children of these public servants are escorted by armed-goons.

We do not quite understand the penchant of these government executives to have armed hoodlums following them every minute of the day. If they are really loved by the people as they claim to be so, what then is the need for bodyguards? Most of the time these security people are instruments of oppression and abuse.

Sad to say, some of these armed men will kill on orders of their masters, and many crimes, especially in far away localities, are committed by these bodyguards who remain unpunished. These security people are the curse of businessmen who cannot refuse their demands. Ask owners of bars and restaurants who have lost large sums of money simply because these men do not pay their bills. Ask waitresses who had to submit to the advances of these people, and they will tell you that indeed, many of these security people abuse their authority. The Palace should strictly enforce the rule that no local executive may employ no more than two bodyguards, who must have PNP and NBI clearances.

(Image from http://www.newsimg.bbc.co.uk/)

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/)

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/)

FH MONEY CHANGER

Since the beginning of the botched felony of 'Le Filipine Euro Generale et Gendarmes' in Moscow, I have always wondered about the big fish involved here. When a scandal like this takes place, one always wonders about the chain of command's involvement and how high it reaches the top, especially if it has everything to do with government funds. After witnessing the recent Senate inquiry on the matter, I am convinced together with legions of suspicious Filipinos that a cover-up has just taken place. It's obvious that PGen. Eliseo De la Paz is now a fall guy. And in the PNP's hurried and amateurish attempt to erase their tracks and all, I think they simply overlooked one item - FH Money Changer. My malicious mind tells me that the initials FH could mean ... First Husband?

(Image from http://www.russia-ic.com/)

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/)

LET THEM PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE

Our PNP's criminal activities have gone global. Not satisfied with the usual local criminal acts here in the Philippines, former top-gun PNP Comptroller General Eliseo Dela Paz and party (the police force's equivalent of the AFP's General Carlos Garcia), put our country in a very embarrassing situation when he was detained recently by airport authorities in Moscow, Russia, having been found carrying in his person 105,000 Euros, or the equivalent of roughly PhP 7 million. And this was already at the airport as they were on their way out, about to board a departing plane from Moscow, which means that they surely had much more money because they had already paid for hotel accomodations, meals, transportation, shopping etc. PNP apologists General Nicanor Bartolome and the ever-doubtful DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno were quick to defend their boy when they said that the money found with General Dela Paz was simply a "contingency fund." Tell that to the marines boys! First and foremost, you have disobeyed your mama master's order to spend money like a true-blue Ilocano spends his money. Second, why have that much cash with you? Ever heard of the term credit card? You're supposed to be a law-abiding police officer whether here or abroad, and you should have checked first on the local Russian laws regarding your felon. Looks like it's another junket trip for a recently-retired police general's pabaon. The guilty parties should instead be playing Russian Roulette with a different version: 5 bullets loaded in a 6-shooter.

(Image from http://www.pia.gov.ph/)

PETER WALLACE, THE UGLY AUSTRALIAN

His name is Peter Wallace of the Wallace Business Forum, an Australian living in the Philippines who I believe owes every Filipino a sincere apology. At a recent gathering for the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and several business groups such as the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and the Makati Business Club (MBC) with Wallace as the emcee, he tried to be cute like an old Koala Bear by cracking a joke on the Glorietta blast last October 2007 - pointing out to the Philippine National Police's (PNP) official findings that the cause of the explosion was Methane gas from the sewage system in the Glorietta mall's basement. Wallace's racist remarks irked many people when he said, "I've seen this international report recently. The Glorietta blast is being blamed by the police on Methane gas, from shit in the old Makati Supermarket building. Ever since the police made the report known, the world is fearing Filipinos as the people with the most explosive shit in world." He also said that scientists from Russia and China are now analyzing the typical Filipino "to learn Filipino shit." In addition to that, he went on to to say "several Filipinos kidnapped in Afghanistan and Iraq, surprisingly by Arab terrorists ... kidnapped Filipinos have been asked to produce shit to be made into bombs for suicidal missions." He added more insults by saying that "the US State Department, fearing deadly consequences, has assigned Delta Force operatives to keep watch on Filipinos and their shit from falling into the hands of terrorist groups." And on the Batasan blast, he said that "the explosion wasn't caused by a bomb, but was triggered by a congressman who couldn't hold on to his shit any longer." Well, if Wallace was trying to be cute and funny, one thing he surely achieved was not that, and instead created a lot of enemies that night. And hey, I'm a typical Filipino, and I'm not taking shit from a typical racist pig like Peter Wallace. He's the one who's full of it with his verbal diarrhea, for "when the defecation hits the ventilation," he should start finding another country to live in.

(Image from http://www.pcs-ict.org/)

SI RAUL O SI GONZALEZ?

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was recently sucking on the barrel of his gun when he accused CHR Chairman Leila de Lima of undue haste and unfairness to some cops in concluding the Tanauan, Batangas killings by Task Force RCBC elements was a rubout or simply a summary execution. Gonzalez likewise was suffering from an acute verbal diarrhea when he said that the bank robbers-murderers should be subject to a "shoot to kill" order. Undue haste? But four people are dead! The PNP record of summary executions and the practice of using 'fall guys' is not a secret. Chairman de Lima was doing what was just right. So, why should Sec. Gonzalez be disappointed about de Lima's swift action? It is be Gonzalez who is guilty as hell for undue haste in clearing Proclamation 1017, in permitting CPR and E.O. 464, in orchestrating the raid on the editorial offices of Tribune, in filing charges against several opposition leaders, including the late Rep. Crispin Beltran. Chairman de Lima simply has set a good example of prompt action by a government agency, in contrary to Gonzalez' canine partisanship.

(Image from http://www.gmanews.tv/)

RCBC'S CCTVS

I almost fell from my chair the other night while I was watching an interview on TV of Edwin Ermita, security head of the RCBC when asked about the bank's robbery-massacre in Cabuyao, Laguna. Asked why the bank's CCTVs were not functioning, he idiotically replied: "Hindi sa hindi gumagana ang CCTV, defective lang." His reaction and answer immediately reminded me of another Mr. Ermita who works in Malacanang as one of the top apologists of Gloria Arroyo. The latter, just like the former comes up with the most absurd replies when confronted with a question only they find mind-boggling to reply.

(Image from http://www.pra.gov.ph/)

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)

ROB-O-COPS

This Christmas season, no less than the PNP top cops, Police Chief Gen. Avelino 'Sonny' Razon and NCRPO Chief Gen. Geary Barias sent out a memorandum to all cops to each wear a 'Mamang Pulis/Santa Claus Headgear' for public viewing while on patrol in the metropolis during the holidays. This reminds me of two things though:

1. Santas are givers and not takers.

2. Instead of a Santa cap, shouldn't the police be wearing a handkerchief (a la bank robber) over their faces instead?

Just a thought.

(Image from http://www.juanmapu.info)

MAMANG PULIS, OVER KA NAMAN!


(Still on the Manila Pen incident) The police must obey the law while enforcing the law.
Enough said.

(L.B. - December 3, 2007)

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