Absolute abuse of authority

Another viral video, another example of absolute abuse of authority: Three Bacoor, Cavite traffic enforcers, not MMDA, not PNP, flagged down a delivery van for no apparent reason near the SM Molino area. When the driver, a sales manager, asked what his violation was, the traffic enforcer just told him and his passengers to alight from the vehicle and surrender his license. Since no violation was mentioned, the driver decided not to alight, which was well within his right. This irked the arrogant traffic enforcer. He called his cohorts and started forcing all occupants of the van to come out. This is when a commotion started, and when they refused to come down, the traffic enforcer decides to use a taser on the driver and his passengers. The whole incident was caught on video. One of the enforcers even tried to grab the device that was recording the incident. Ultimately, the enforcers just let them go. No ticket citation was given, no violation mentioned.

What were these enforcers thinking? Did they just want an occasion to use their tasers, choosing a delivery van thinking that these are just ordinary people that they can intimidate? And why do they have tasers in the first place? According to the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office, tasers are in the same category as airsoft guns, and should be duly registered. They are also covered by the Comelec election gun ban. So who authorized these morons to carry a taser around? The Cavite police have issued a statement that the enforcers are not police officers, but are members of the Bacoor traffic management division. So who is their superior? He probably has a lot to answer for as well.

So many violations were committed. The driver was not informed of his violation. They had no right to force the occupants of the vehicle to alight. There is a "no contact rule" where they cannot even reach into a vehicle to ask for a license or registration. And they cannot manhandle the driver or any of the passengers. Obviously, these Bacoor, Cavite traffic enforcers have no idea what the laws are. Obviously they have no training whatsoever in law enforcement. Obviously they became traffic enforcers because of someone they knew at the local government level. And they have tasers? Goodness.

Some people do not deserve to be given any semblance of authority. These Bacoor, Cavite traffic enforcers are the perfect example. They walk a thin line between law-enforcing and law-breaking, done behind a power of authority foolishly given to them by someone. If these enforcers are eventually suspended or terminated, which they should be, I would not be surprised if they eventually become criminals.

They now face multiple criminal charges from both the offended parties and the PNP. They have been suspended for three months, but with the video, I'm sure they will be terminated. Imagine if the driver was alone, and no video was taken. Aside from suffering the pain from a taser, he would probably end up in jail for no apparent reason. His word against three others. How can he win? How can we all win against abusive persons of authority that roam the streets, if no cameras are around to capture their abuses?