EDITORIAL - Cops and robbers

According to a report, six policemen from the Manila Police District have been arrested for alleged robbery and extortion in Makati City.

The six suspects; a police staff sergeant, a police corporal, and four patrolmen, were allegedly assigned to the MPD Police Station 9 in Malate but went to Makati City where they allegedly held up three victims.

The six fled on motorcycles but were arrested by responding policemen and positively identified by their victims.

Who are we to say with complete confidence that they committed the crime. But let’s say for the sake of argument that those six did it. If so, then why did they do it?

If it’s a matter of money then there ought to be no excuse for policemen to still turn to crime to line their pockets. The entry level of uniformed Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, the patrolman/patrolwoman earns ?29,668 monthly. That is definitely much higher than other entry-level jobs. A police staff sergeant earns ?32,114, while a police corporal earns ?30,867.

This isn’t to mention the benefits and allowances they get to boost morale. Not to mention the extras during midyear and Christmas.

Still going on the assumption that they are guilty, this again leads us to ask the same questions that have been asked many, many, many rimes. Why are some policemen still turning to crime? Can the police system not prevent those who shouldn’t become policemen from becoming policemen? Can the police system not weed out scalawags? Can the police system not deter policemen from becoming the criminals they are supposed to be fighting against?

We want to give the police suspects the benefit of the doubt. First because everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Second because it’s just too painful to believe that some of our policemen are still engaging in crime despite how professional the PNP has supposedly become.