Good cops

The presence of rotten apples in a basketful of apples does not mean that all the apples in the basket are rotten. Apple pickers could not really be sure that all the apples they pick and place in the basket are not rotten or will not rot. This is also true of any private or public organization or offices. The bigger the organization or office or agency, the harder it is to prevent some “rotten apples” from infiltrating their ranks.

The best example here is a government agency as big as the Philippine National Police (PNP). It has been shown time and again that there are rotten, incompetent, corrupt, cruel, inefficient, lazy and bungling cops. The tragic and bloody hostage taking last Monday at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta and that cruel and inhuman torture of a robbery suspect perpetrated by a police officer inside the Asuncion police precinct in Tondo, Manila are concrete proofs of the existence of such kind of cops.

These cops may have given the organization a big black eye. They may have tarnished the image of the PNP. But their presence in the organization does not mean that all the members and officers of the PNP are “rotten apples” as to completely destroy its reputation and erode the peoples’ confidence in its capability to maintain peace and order in the country. To conclude otherwise not only further undermines public safety. It is also unfair to the entire membership of the PNP.

If the public perception is that the PNP cannot be trusted at all in doing its job properly, then its service may further deteriorate. More and more officers and members may be driven to entertain the thought and adopt the attitude of just living up to that kind of reputation and really resort to all sorts of underhanded tactics and malfeasances now being committed by the “rotten apples” among their ranks and file. In other words, most if not all of the apples in the PNP basket may become rotten.

The adverse public opinion against the PNP and its unsavory reputation is also unfair to its membership because the truth is that the good cops far outnumber the bad cops in the organization; that there are more officers and men who are doing excellent jobs in enforcing the law and preserving peace in the community. To be sure, the PNP’s image has been almost irreparably damaged mainly because more publicity is generated by and given to the bad cops and their shenanigans. The organization has really been a victim of too much bad publicity simply because the bad news are sometimes more sensational as to generate more media mileage.

Hence media should also focus their attention equally if not more on the good cops. Their outstanding feats must also generate the same if not bigger amount of publicity. They must be given due recognition and given awards whenever there is opportunity to do so. Recognizing the good cops and giving them awards will inspire them and the rest of their colleagues to strive for excellence in the performance of their jobs. This will definitely improve the PNP’s service to our country and people.

To be sure, some non-government organizations have already undertaken this project. They have been giving awards to the “Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service” (“COPS”). This project has been on-going for several years now under the auspices of: the Rotary Club of New Manila East, District 3780 where the incumbent Governor is lawyer Pablo “Ambo” Gancayo; the Metrobank Foundation Inc. headed by Mr. Washington Sycip as chairman and Mr. Aniceto M. Sobrepena as president; and the PSBank.

Today, August 31, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. is the COPS awarding ceremonies at Malacañang ceremonial hall which is expected to be graced by the presence of no less than P-Noy’s himself. This is the good news. We hope we have more such good news and that media will also play them up.

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