Anti-arrogance law proposed

A congressman who was once a victim of arrogance during his younger days told Spy Bits that he also wants to propose an “anti-arrogance bill” that would mete stiff fines and punishment including jail time for public officials who display rude and arrogant behavior especially in the performance of their duties. The same congressman told Spy Bits that he also wants to file an “anti-namedropping law” that would also penalize private individuals who will flaunt their connection with high government officials to get out of sticky situations.

The legislator told us he has been mulling the filing of these laws, but got convinced these are necessary following the news about South Korea’s implementation of an “anti-nut rage law” as a result of the air rage displayed by a Korean Air vice president in 2014. Heather Cho, who is also the daughter of the airline company’s owner, went ballistic when a flight attendant served her macadamia nuts inside a sealed bag and not on a plate.

The COO – child of owner – berated the cabin crew chief and ordered the plane to turn back at the gate of the JFK Airport because she wanted the offending crew offloaded. A report of the incident over social media drew the ire of South Koreans and netizens, who condemned her abusive and arrogant behavior. The uproar resulted in a public apology by the airline and her father, who also had her removed as company executive.

Cho was subsequently sued by the flight attendant who alleged that she was verbally and physically abused, and was urged to lie about the incident. The judge who ruled the case said “human dignity” had been “trampled upon,” and also expressed doubts about the remorse displayed by Cho, saying it does not look genuine. The nutty heiress was subsequently found guilty of violating aviation safety rules for ordering the plane to turn around after it has left the gate, and was meted a one-year jail sentence.

Under the new anti nut-rage law, passengers or individuals who bother a pilot during flight face a five-year prison term plus a fine of 50 million Korean won (about $41,300) – 10 times more than the previous penalty of 5 million won ($4,130) with no jail term. The new law also says cabin crew members are obligated to turn over disruptive or drunken passengers to authorities or else face a fine of 10 million won ($8,260).

Such incidents displaying arrogant and rude behavior are not new to Filipinos. If one can recall, the video of this fashion designer cursing and berating employees of the Duty Free Shop went viral. Apparently, the designer was miffed when he was asked to show another ID to validate his unsigned credit card, triggering a fit with the designer saying, “Don’t you know me?” then demanded that the employee kneel down in apology. Like the nut rage, the incident was also condemned by netizens who were outraged at the boorish arrogance displayed by the “feeling sikat” designer against the ordinary employees.

More recently, a female official of the National Police Commission was sacked for berating cops and village officials who were responding to a public disturbance complaint involving her relative. The Napolcom official even called a certain “colonel” to complain about the responding cops, then hurled invectives at the village official who was filming her outburst, telling the person he has no right to film her and that she was an official. Napolcom ordered a probe of the incident and relieved the official, saying they will not tolerate any kind of behavior that would put the Commission in a bad light.

Aside from arrogance, Filipinos also hate those who namedrop people in power to get out of a case or a sticky situation. In October last year, newly appointed Interior Secretary Mel Sarmiento warned against those who will use his name to get financial favors from suspected members of vice and crime syndicates, saying he will not hesitate to order the arrest and filing of charges against those who namedrop him in exchange for “protection money” against illegal gambling and similar unlawful activities. The same warning was also issued over a week ago by new Immigration chief Ronaldo Geron following reports that his name is being used to assure illegal aliens of “protection.”

As far as we know however, there is no law prescribing punishment for individuals who namedrop in order to avoid legal consequences of their actions – even traffic violators for instance who flash a signed calling card of top police officials to get out of a traffic citation ticket – which is why the Congressman said he wants to file a bill that would prescribe high fines plus a jail term to teach these namedroppers a costly lesson. Without mentioning names, the Congressman recalled a recently departed former government official who hogged headlines last year for allegedly interceding in a sugar smuggling case, and invoking the name of the powers that be in Malacañang to have the case swept under the rug.

Riding on drugs

A Los Angeles-based fashion retailer is capitalizing on the Rolling Stone feature of recaptured Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who was interviewed by actor Sean Penn and shown wearing a silk Barabas shirt. The clothing company immediately uploaded the photo on its Facebook and Instagram accounts, proudly announcing that El Chapo was wearing the Barabas “Most Wanted” shirt – with sales going off chart.

Ironic really, since the brand’s tagline “Good Words. Good Thoughts. Good Deeds.” does not apply to the drug lord.  Critics say the company is sending the wrong kind of message as it seems to glamorize and glorify criminal personalities, even going to the extent of holding a contest for those who will like the brand’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, with the “Barabas ‘El Chapo’ Most Wanted” shirt as prize.

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