Living dangerously

Yesterday Pulse Asia released the results of its first quarter survey showing that 28 percent of Filipinos do not feel safe on the streets at night while 37 percent fear their homes would be burglarized. The figures, Pulse Asia pointed out, were lower than the percentages last December.

The only thing surprising about the results is that the figures seem too low. Sure, there are relatively few rich people who are the targets of kidnappers and other forms of lowlife. But it’s not only the rich who worry about their lives and property.

In the streets and other public places anyone can be divested of his wristwatch, cell phone and purse. I know women who lost their earrings to snatchers while riding on jeepneys in Manila. Armed robbers prey on buses. In crowded shopping malls you must hold on to your toddlers; there are petty kidnappers who snatch children then demand ransom of a few thousand bucks. Take a good look at your car when you park in a public area; the car may no longer be there upon your return. I know someone who has lost his Toyota Corolla’s side mirrors twice while the car was parked for the night outside his home in La Loma. I told him to look for the mirrors in the car parts shops in Banawe.

People feel so exasperated about rising criminality that there are many who applaud the summary execution of suspected crooks.

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But it’s often hard to tell the bad guys from the good. Yesterday a businessman and his wife, who buy and sell used cars, put their house up for sale. On the night of May 2, men in civilian clothes, some of them in shorts, barged into the house, located in a middle-class subdivision in southern Metro Manila.

Without showing a warrant, the men announced they were cops, said it was a drug bust, then handcuffed the businessman in the presence of his frightened wife and three daughters. The men dragged the "suspect" out of the house without saying where they were taking him, then left in three unmarked cars.

Neighbors wrote down the cars’ license plates. The wife sought the help of a high-ranking police official, giving him the license plates. She also told him that her husband had P150,000 with him from the sale of a used car that day and she feared he might be killed. Big mistake. The woman didn’t know her husband had left the bulk of the money at their home and had only P2,000 in his wallet.

The official referred the case to a police chief superintendent, who in turn summoned a senior superintendent. The senior superintendent reportedly said the businessman would simply be interrogated, and if nothing came out of the questioning, he would be released.

The wife, however, later received a call from her husband, who said he was being made to cough up P150,000 if he wanted to be freed.

During the negotiations, the couple’s neighbor, who chairs the peace and security committee of their homeowners’ association, asked what the ruckus was about. The neighbor happens to be a member of a special police unit.

Members of this unit laid out an entrapment scheme for the extortionists, marking bills amounting to P80,000 and calling in a TV news crew.

It was agreed that the payoff would be made in the room at the police headquarters where the businessman was being held. At dawn of May 3, undercover agents of the special unit arrived at the office. They found the businessman holding a piece of metal, which he was told would be used to electrocute him in case his wife failed to come up with the money.

The P80,000 was received by a special police officer 1, who didn’t seem too pleased that it wasn’t the expected P150,000. When he had the money, members of the special unit announced the sting. The SPO1 tried but failed to escape. Other cops managed to flee, and the senior superintendent vehemently denied his men’s shakedown attempt. The couple filed extortion charges against the SPO1, which government prosecutors elevated to ransom kidnapping.

I would have identified all the police officers here, except the businessman and his wife, who have been receiving death threats, have agreed to withdraw their complaint. And now their house is up for sale.

How can anyone trust this police force? How can anyone feel safe?

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NOT A DROP TO DRINK: Speaking of southern Metro Manila, residents are bound to stage a mini rebellion over the announcement that Maynilad Water Services Inc. could serve the area no earlier than 2007. The water service was first expected in 2000, then this year. Maynilad is blaming the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. The MWSS is blaming the environment department and residents living around Laguna de Bay. Those who won’t get water till 2007? They can always blame President GMA.

As for the motorists who still can’t use the short cut from Sucat Road to Coastal Road through Kabihasnan because of an abandoned Maynilad road digging, they can blame not only the water company, but also those who are making money for turning the short cut into a jeepney terminal. Take your pick: Parañaque officials or their relatives, cops, traffic aides, or all of the above.

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DANGEROUS VEHICLES: And speaking of Toyota, my favorite car company should watch out, the quality of its services may be slipping while its rates are soaring.

Former Manila Vice Mayor James Barbers is complaining that his son was nearly killed when a Toyota Hi-Lux the boy was driving figured in an accident on April 17. The son was on his way to Barbers’ hometown in Ilocos Sur that morning when the vehicle lost its left rear wheel as it was cruising along the national highway in San Fernando, La Union. As the vehicle skidded to a stop, the brake drum was dented. The boy reported the incident to Toyota Cubao, which only the previous day had released the vehicle after a general checkup that cost P19,553.46.

Emergency repairs were done, the wheel was re-attached and Barbers’ son continued driving. In Barangay Maynganay Norte in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, however, the vehicle lost its brakes. The vehicle veered to the right and smashed into a concrete waiting shed. Barbers’ son was injured.

Toyota Cubao was alerted about the accident, but Barbers said it took two days before the vehicle was picked up. The Hi-Lux has not yet been repaired.

Since learning how to drive I’ve been loyal to Toyota. All these years I’ve never had problems with Toyota Alabang and Toyota Quezon Avenue. Maybe they should help out Toyota Cubao in services and customer relations.