Are we safe from our own police?

Are we safe from our own policemen? The question arises from Stephanie’s (edited) account of what happened to her on the night of Oct. 5 in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila. It was clearly an attempted robbery, perhaps even abduction — by cops no less:

“It was about 10 p.m. when I turned onto the main avenue of our subdivision, from Sucat’s east service road. I noticed a car behind me as I approached the guardhouse at our village entrance. Past the guard, the vehicle zoomed to overtake. It must be a neighbor hurrying home from work, I thought. About two lots from our house on the main road, the car, now ahead of me, screeched to a stop on left side. It was a patrol car, and from the passenger side sprang a man in uniform. Noticing I had slowed down at a hump, he jumped in front of my car. As I braked, he motioned me to roll down my window. I opened it a bit, just enough to hear what he had to say. He demanded to see my registration, and when I asked why, he only vaguely said, ‘Naka-flag kasi itong kotse mo.’ Puzzled, I slipped the papers through the window slot, hoping to clear things up the soonest, since I hadn’t committed any violation.

“Policeman-1 quickly passed the papers to Policeman-2, who by then had appeared behind him. Policeman-2 ordered me to unlock the car hood. Irritated now, I asked again what for and Policeman-2 gave the same vague answer, ‘Naka-flag kasi itong kotse mo.’ I did as told, and Policeman-2 pulled up my hood and proceeded to ‘check’ under it. As I watched what Policeman-2 was doing, Policeman-1 surprised me with a knock on my passenger-side window. I rolled it down a little too, and he ordered to see my driver’s license. I began to sense something suspicious. Why did he go to the other side of my car? I told him my house was just beyond the curve ten meters away, so we’d better just move there where they can do all the inspecting they wanted. He didn’t answer. I slid my license through the right window opening. Policeman-2 distracted me by walking over to my door. With a firmer voice, I told him too that we go to my house gate where I’d feel safer. No reply. It was then when I saw Policeman-1 insert his arm through the right window slot, reaching to open the door lock. He was having a hard time because of the rain visor. Instinctively I pressed the power-window switch close. As Policeman-1 gave out a yelp, I told myself something definitely was wrong. By law, no cop may touch anything inside your car unless armed with a search order. As Policeman-1 pulled his arm out the window, I shut it and saw Policeman-2 pointing a rifle at me.

“I cannot remember exactly what he yelled, but it was along the lines of ‘buksan ... ibigay ... tumigil ka, kundi puputukan kita.’ Policeman-1 also began shouting, as Policeman-2 hit my windshield with his rifle. I honked my horn nonstop, then sped off even with the hood still up obstructing my view. I don’t remember who of the two tried to block me, but my fender hit him and he fell into a crouch. Luckily my hood shut when I hit another hump. I didn’t look back till I reached our gate, but they apparently didn’t give chase. A tricycle driver who witnessed the latter part of the scene said he saw the two policemen running back to their patrol car and driving off.

“Reviewing what happened, I realize now that their every move was planned and with a purpose. All the details, put together, would’ve made for a perfect crime.”

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Ondoy and Pepeng taught homebuyers important lessons: Check if the subdivision lot is flood-prone, that is, a land-filled catch basin, lagoon or creek. Find out if the city engineer or DPWH district officer ascertained sturdy sewerage and river dikes. Build on high solid ground, not on muddy slopes downriver. Ask oldsters if the area is safe. Buy only from reputable developers.

Happy are investors who bought lots at Timberland in the hilltops of San Mateo, Rizal, just outside Quezon City. Also, those who bought in Ayala and adjacent villages in southern Metro Manila, that have huge drainage pipes and built-in water-treatment plants. Others are moving outside the crowded metropolis to escape traffic and smog, yet still near work or school. Among recent openings is Sandari Batulao, an 800-hectare multi-use residential development in Nasugbu, Batangas just past Tagaytay an hour from Makati. Developer is Ambassador Tony Cabangon Chua of Citystate Properties & Management Corp., assisted by Arch. Liu Thai Ker who planned Singapore’s urban-scape.

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“If you close your eyes to those in need, you will need Divine grace to open the eyes of your heart.” Shafts of Light, Fr. Guido Arguelles, SJ

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