The New PNP Recruits

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea
 
The PNP New Recruits

The announcement of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) at the program Kape kag Isyu re; acceptance of application for police service is what got the jobless college graduates so excited about. To be a PNP member is already a secured job.

This space had been PNP friendly and we are disturbed by reports of suspension and dismissal of many new members of the police for stepping over-the-line of pardonable behavior. In most cases, it is caused by pomposity in displaying the PNP uniform they are so proud of.

A personal experience at PNP checkpoints compelled me to write again about this police misbehavior. The cases I filed against a Senior Police Inspector and a PO1, gave them a good lesson for acting ultra vires or beyond the scope of their authority.

I recall the driving of a motorcycle by my son with only a temporary operator’s permit (TOP). He was stopped at the checkpoint and told by a police officer-in-charge to look for one with a driver’s license to get the impounded vehicle.

When I went to the checkpoint, a PO1 asked for my driver’s license claiming it is in exchange for the freedom of my son whom they allegedly let go. I resisted but under duress, I was forced to give in to their demand.  The OIC ordered him to issue a TOP against me for a new traffic violation I have never heard before, “Disregarding!”

Sus gino-o, they are already in the pot but jumped into the fire. I settled the fine on the very next day with “payment under protest” written on the xerox copy of my TOP. Mind you, but that note alone has put the irresponsible police officers from Precinct 4 in the brink of insanity!

The new PNP members should know that the Bill of Rights is the bedrock of the Constitutional government. Thus, the act of two police officers in arresting Juan for the crime of Pedro is a concept of justice at odds with due process. If people are stripped naked of their rights as human beings, democracy cannot survive and government becomes meaningless!

There are also reported cases of police brutality in handling arrested suspects. Suspects are still subject to investigation. If there is probable cause, the filing of cases, then arraignment. But even if they are already the accused, they’re still innocent, not yet guilty, until proven beyond reasonable doubt.

This is not what we think police business is all about. New PNP members must study more about the different aspects of law-enforcement in adherence with the rule of law. Jurisprudence reminds them too that; “extreme enforcement of law may lead to injustice.” (Berico vs. CA, 225 SCRA 562).

This story explains why the Bill of Rights contained in ART. III of the Constitution occupies a position of primacy to the fundamental law way above the articles on government powers. Discipline is imperative for all PNP members especially the new ones who are most prone to unwanted consequences!

The PNP indeed is between us and crime. Let us not shame this institution with bad jokes like; “Once people in trouble turn to the police. Today, they will be in more trouble if they run to the police.” The PNP hierarchy had been cleaning-up their ranks of scalawags to restore public trust in the police service, so let’s give them more space.

New PNP members should know that the Court values liberty and will always insist on the observance of basic Constitutional Rights as a condition sine qua non against the awesome investigative and prosecutorial powers of people in the government. I’m sure PRO6 RD, C/Supt. Agrimeo Cruz subscribes to this and will help bring my message to the hearts of his men!