EDITORIAL - Abuse of power

This is what happens when one is in power too long. Two prominent members of Iloilo’s Garin clan face multiple criminal charges and a possible congressional probe for beating up and even spitting at a policeman in Guimbal town.

Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr., a representative of Iloilo’s first congressional district, has issued a public apology and taken full responsibility for the beating of Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya in Guimbal at the town plaza last Wednesday. Garin was joined in the beating by his father Oscar Sr. who is the town mayor.

Father and son, according to reports, had confronted Macaya and demanded to know why he had not pressed charges against the teenage son of a town councilor who had engaged in a scuffle. The congressman disarmed and handcuffed the policeman, kicked and beat him up and spat on him, according to reports about the confrontation.

The incident prompted 28 members of the Guimbal police force to seek reassignment. The town police chief has been sacked for failure to arrest the Garins. Amid reports that the mayor had pointed a gun at Macaya and fired into the air, the Philippine National Police revoked the gun licenses and permits of father and son. The PNP pulled out the two close-in security escorts of the Garins. The mayor also stands to lose supervision over the town’s police force.

Congressman Garin, husband of former health secretary Jeanette Garin, apologized to the PNP and the public, explaining that his action was “merely a display of extreme frustration” against a cop who had “committed a great disservice to the people of Guimbal.”

Other people, and not just PNP members, saw it as a display of extreme arrogance. The father and son had to surrender yesterday rifles and handguns registered in their names. Licenses for eight of the guns have reportedly expired.

The Garins are getting what they deserve. Now authorities must see to it that there will be a similar tough response to other cases of abuse of power. This attitude of political kingpins toward lesser mortals is not unique in this country. And if they can abuse cops, think of what they can do to civilians.