I noticed. Did you?
“When I do right, no one remembers. When I do wrong, nobody forgets.”
People in government and public service may often feel this way. This is the consequence of providing a service or performing a duty. People expect to be served and presume to have the privilege to judge, criticize or complain about how they were served even if they are tax evaders or genuine smugglers.
They are either in a rush, in need, in a panic or in fear. You may as well be a vending machine or an ATM because in many cases that’s how people behave towards “that teller at the window”.
But today I choose to notice and to remember. Today, I want to say thank you and “Job well done”.
This week, the PNP finally caught the gang that victimizes travelers coming from the NAIA Complex. In addition to this, another PNP unit quickly arrested three of four men who robbed a public bus in broad daylight along EDSA in Mandaluyong City.
And finally, I read a story from Nueva Vizcaya, where the PNP Provincial Director has displayed both concern and fairness in treating all sides in a tense situation concerning opposition to mining in the area.
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For nearly half a year, a gang had been victimizing travelers exiting from the NAIA complex and robbing and/or shooting them in transit. After several months of being reminded of these serial robber-shooters, the PNP finally caught the gang members.
The major bust was made by the Highway Patrol Group now headed by Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, who used to be the “talking head” of the PNP but is obviously being blessed with a good start.
On the other hand, the Manila Police District seems to have better luck this week as they arrested another suspect who they claim is from the same gang victimizing travelers from the NAIA complex. MPD OIC Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla made the announcement and confirmed their case through the testimony of complainants.
So as far as the “Bundol” gang is concerned, the cops finally scored the big hit. But what about the gang member that police suspects work inside the NAIA complex and has the uncanny ability of correctly selecting high value targets? The insider is not an amateur and not just a runner.
We’ve long suspected that the person might be engaged in forex transactions, a bank within the terminals, or someone involved in the baggage inspection process particularly at customs.
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The next score for the week by the PNP was the relatively fast location and arrest of a group of men who recently robbed an air-conditioned bus along the EDSA- Mandaluyong area.
The Mandaluyong City police was apparently not happy that the robbers decided to “make a scene” within the city limits, so Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun sent out an order that the bus robbers are to be found and arrested “Immediately”. That usually means within 48 hours or seven days or live with a very crabby police chief!
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Finally, another bit of good news is how the new leadership of the PNP in Nueva Vizcaya has shown fairness and political maturity in handling a long- standing conflict between mining firms and local communities.
A few years back, when local indigenous people stood their ground to stop a mining firm from entering their area, the PNP response was to send what witnesses called “a full battalion of Special Action Force, fully armed for battle”.
That tactical and political mistake back then, left a very deep wound in the hearts and minds of the people of Nueva Vizcaya and officials of the Catholic Church. So when workers of the Buena Suerte mining company went up the hills this week, people expressed both fear and hurt that a similar incident may once again take place.
But instead, the new PNP Provincial Director Col. Elmer Beltejar showed wisdom by preventing any semblance of militarization or force in their approach. Beltejar expressed his personal concern for everyone’s safety and everyone’s right early in the process, which apparently set the tone for all parties concerned.
It is nice to hear of a person who prioritizes the value of people and communities and manages to respect company interests.
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The only sad thing about the matter is that the crime or series of crimes often get headline or Front page treatment. The criminals get more than two minutes of fame or notoriety. Which resulted in embarrassing the cops. But why can’t media groups give the cops or the public servants the same exposure they gave the crooks now that the good guys have “won the game”?
The only time we did this was during the popularity of “Dirty Harry” films and unfortunately, it was never the media that glamorized or popularized our police heroes, it was the movie industry that did so. From FPJ to Eddie Garcia to Rudy Fernandez.
Consider our double standard hypocrisy in media. We make available several dedicated cable channels for foreign crime and police channels. We are addicted to NCIS and Criminal Minds, but we treat the PNP as second class citizens.
In all this, our friends within the PNP leadership seriously need to have their media handlers and everyone in those offices retrained. Just like a corporation, the PNP offers services. So anyone selling service must also promote their very own achievements.
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Just like this article, it does take effort to notice what we take for granted. But what we notice and don’t take for granted may be what others need the most.
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