EDITORIAL – Another black eye for the police

Even as the image of the police has yet to recover from the controversy about the ninja cops who resell shabu seized during operations as well as the ambush of Misamis Occidental mayor Dave Navarro, it suffers yet another blow to its reputation.

This time it’s the murder of Dumaguete City broadcaster Dindo Generoso last week, allegedly perpetrated by an active policeman and a retired policeman with the help of a civilian. The latter two have already been captured.

No less than Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office director, Police Colonel Julian Entoma, confirmed that they are now conducting a manhunt against one of their own, Police Corporal Roger Rubio, who is assigned to the Provincial Mobile Force Company based in Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay, but detailed in Guihulngan City.

The latest reports have it that Rubio has already gone absent without leave. To be fair, the investigation continues and Rubio should be granted the presumption of innocence while his possible guilt has not been definitely established.

However, this cannot stop the public from asking why there are still policemen who just cannot seem to keep their hands clean.

Is there something about being on the other side of the law that attracts some policemen? Or is it just a matter of money. Isn’t it enough that their salaries have been doubled? Are some of them really so in want of money that they are willing to go against everything they have sworn to uphold to get it?

Of course, we know that not all policemen fall into this category. There are policemen who go about their duties while successfully resisting all temptations that go with it.

However, it only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch, as the saying goes. And while some policemen risk their lives to do their duty, it’s sad that there are those who don’t think twice about leaving the image of the entire police force in tatters.