Let’s give it a try

Last Tuesday afternoon, I had to do a parts run from Pasig to Diliman, Quezon City. Leaving at 3:30 I mentally prepared myself to a lot of heavy traffic driving and told my crew that we would probably have to eat dinner on the road and maybe make it back around 6:30 or 7 because of the evening rush hour. That’s how bad traffic has been for several weeks and there has been no way around it.

But to my wonder and amazement I actually got from Shaw to UP Diliman in 30 minutes. The even bigger shock was taking Katipunan to C-5 all the way to Pasig and making it in 20 minutes. There were no traffic jams at the U-turn slots and the U-turn slots were all gone. They were replaced by brand new traffic lights complete with digital timers and they were all synchronized in a way that drivers went through what they call a “green wave” or perfectly timed green lights that allows cars and drivers to drive continuously from one traffic light to the next!

I also noticed that there were an unusual number of MMDA enforcers on foot and on motorcycle strictly implementing the rules and use of “Truck Lane” and “Motorcycle Lane.” The fact that MMDA enforcers were arresting riders in the wrong lane came as a surprise because this has long been a complaint of drivers in C-5 who’ve been scared to death about running over motorcycle riders crisscrossing lanes on C-5. During the drive which was several kilometers long, it was clear that drivers were paying attention and staying on their designated lanes which once again proves that Filipinos will follow the law if the law is correctly and fully implemented for all.   

Given that wonderful experience, I cautiously congratulate Chairman Francis Tolentino, his MMDA enforcers and of course the Mayors who supported the program. To be honest, I am anxious about being the first to say “well done” knowing how good things immediately burn out due to our “Ningas Cogon” mentality. However, judging from the physical and social changes, the changes on Katipunan and C-5 are certainly great, need and deserve the public’s support. Well done MMDA.

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One who corrects must also be willing to teach.

In the last two weeks I have written at least 2 biting critiques or commentary about the Philippine National Police, it’s structure as well as it’s moral state of affairs. I have done so not out of spite or simply to be critical but rather hoping against hope that such commentaries would prod the PNP’s leadership to take stock and to respond.

Instead of sending a letter to the Editors, firing an email to my address or getting personal, what some PNP officials did from the DPCR or Directorate Police Community Relations was to ask me to conduct a training program on communications and media relations similar to the one I conduct for the Development Academy of the Philippines. It was a no-brainer for me and my wife even made sure I accepted the invitation because we both believe that those who point at the problem must also have some answers or solutions.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, I spent two full days dissecting the situation with my “class” of 23 officer/students from different regions and provinces to gain a better understanding about the Police and how they are suppose to manage community relations. While I was teaching I was also learning stuff you never hear from media or even from the Police.

For instance, the many scalawags who were separated from the police force and resurfaced as criminals were actually removed from the service via administrative cases in the past. It’s the closest to being fired for cause in a private company. The nightmare begins when the same scalawags are jobless but don’t go to jail because the Napolcom, DOJ or the government fails to put them in jail via a criminal case because there are no complainants because they got scared off. So what you end up with are repeat offenders who eventually go out into the streets, rob, kill or rape and then tarnish the PNP image a second or third time around simply because they used to be cops or pretended to be in active duty.

If Senator Grace Poe wants to help the PNP, she might do that by forming a focus group or consultative group to craft a law that will allow the PNP to directly file a criminal complaint against such criminals in the absence of a civilian complainant. This way the “ex-cops” or scalawags won’t be able to harass, intimidate or buy off complainants. If the PNP can go beyond the filing of administrative charges and pursue criminal charges directly, I am certain that we will achieve a lot by making sure “Bad Cops” go to jail. 

One of the key points I made in the training was for the police to focus on purpose. Many people in government conduct medical missions, give out school supplies, give livelihood trainings, the cops train force multipliers and teach Barangay tanods about peace keeping duties. All of these activities are intended for good community relations and PR. While all of these projects are nice, they have nothing to do with their job, which in the case of the police is to be law enforcers and to insure peace and order. I pointed out the fact that most people just want to see the police doing something for them or being present in the streets to discourage snatchers, pick pockets, even kidnappers.

The worst thing the PNP did for police community relations was when they divorced themselves from our “family” by no longer taking care of the traffic, no longer being around to help women and children cross the streets etc. In other words, their decision to be crime fighters removed them from the streets where the people become victims and the places that eventually become “the scene of the crime.” Yes, we want to improve, evolve and even become sophisticated. Unfortunately, the people just want the police to be around and be like real people and not Robocop or Robber-cops.

The good news is that the police are open-minded, receptive and sincerely want to deal with problems. I just learned that there will be a next batch and they will all be Chiefs of Police. I believe that’s their  way of saying: Teach Us. So school is now open.    

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