The Neophytes at Checkpoints

Hole of Justice

By Peter G. Jimenea

 

The Neophytes at Checkpoints

 

The manning of PNP-COMELEC checkpoints by neophyte members of the police force is sometimes irritating.  I have no intent to blight the good ones, but there are few who failed to observe the good behavioral-conduct of a police officer.

 

Their interest in single-motorcycle riders at the checkpoint is understandable due to the alarming incident of unsolved crimes perpetrated by motorcycle criminals riding in tandem. But not all motorcycle riders are bad, most are peaceful taxpayers.

 

This is what worries us. Is it difficult for the neophytes in police service to say good morning, good afternoon or good evening to people they stopped at checkpoints? I don’t think this is what they learned from the academe and during training.

 

Perhaps the command has failed to give the police neophytes the seminar on behavioral conduct on why they looked like cowboys with less-working brains. The bad-manners of the police at PNP-COMELEC checkpoints is a shame to the uniform they are so proud of.

 

This reminds me of the retired P/Supt. Norlito Bautista when still a Police City Director. I was then turning from the right side of the road to the left to cross the Jalandoni Bridge in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz when stopped by a traffic aide. He said I violated the NO U TURN traffic sign.

 

I disagree knowing it was not a U-Turn but a left turn going to the bridge. But I am in a hurry and to stop the argument, I gave him my driver’s license. It was only a misfortune that I noticed his wearing only slippers and I called the attention of the police director.

 

Supt. Bautista told me it is not the proper uniform for a city traffic aide on the street and immediately dispatched a team to check. Although I paid a fine to get back my driver’s license, I was consoled upon learning the guy has got the spanking he deserved for his stupidity.

 

May I then suggest to Traffic Management and Transport Regulatory Office (TMTRO) Chief, Engr. Jose Tengco that he should replaced that traffic sign NO U TURN to a NO LEFT TURN to avoid future squabble between vehicle-owners and traffic aides in that area.

 

Going back to police business, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) should deputized only police officers with proper knowledge about traffic violations. A bad experience on this mess would not easily go away.

 

Take this case that happened three years ago. It was February 22, 2010, when I instructed my son to process the emission test and the stencils of the motor and chassis numbers of my motorcycle required by the LTO prior to renewal of its registration.

 

On the way home at about 11:30 am, he was stopped at the PNP-COMELEC checkpoint in Calumpang, Molo, Iloilo City. Despite the complete documents, the motorcycle was impounded on the ground that he has no driver's license, except a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP).

 

Accordingly, he was told by the police team leader at the checkpoint to look for someone with driver's license to get the impounded motorcycle at the checkpoint. So, when told, I went there immediately as it is just a block away.

 

Without due courtesy, a police inspector from Molo Police Station ordered a PO2 to issue a ticket for traffic violation. When asked by a subordinate what should be written in the TOP as violation to be charged against me, he said “Disregarding.”

Despite my protestation, I was forced to sign the TOP for fear that once the motorcycle is brought to the police station, some parts might get lost and the replacement will cost me more. This is already my bad experience before.

 

To make the story short, I paid the fine with a note on my TOP “payment under protest.” Nobody wants to sign the original TOP which I decided to keep in my possession for the filing of cases against the two policemen. When my lawyer started drumbeating, the two police officers eventually surrendered.  

 

The police inspector wronged in formulating a traffic violation - “Disregarding!” So, the wild tiger became a domesticated cat so gentle. Neophytes should bury this messy police mess, that; “Once people in trouble turn to the police, today, they’ll be in more trouble if they run to the police!” Take its lesson to the heart.