Police brutality

I woke up to social media feeds full of negative reactions to an incident that transpired earlier - a policeman who killed two innocent individuals. The crime was all caught on cam and the perpetrator yielded to the authorities thereafter.

It created an impact on everyone, with the PNP losing its credibility all over town. It made a sense of distrust after the police said they were the sternest officers of the land. They have a track record of being brutal when it comes to the war against drugs but this war seems to be different, and a bit off. We come to the issue on the proper use of one’s firearm especially when outside the line of duty. It is but proper to discuss how these certain officers should carry themselves with or without the uniform.

We see one victim is also the policeman’s daughter who was seen on social media proudly professing her love for her father who is a policeman. But who is to blame for the innocent’s child’s feelings? No one and nothing. In fact she should be kept out of it. The pinnacle of this all is how could a person in authority have the guts to go and kill. That question has to be answered by the agency itself.

It is true that not all policemen are brutal.

In fact, some of them are my friends. In the same manner that not all who rally are communists and rebels. It may be a different nature and of another story, but the logic is the same. We can’t judge all because of one.

Now we go back to the police brutality.

Can we still trust the PNP today with the incidents that transpired? I don’t think so. In fact, it may even stir fear in one’s mindset most especially among the younger generation. This would put all the PNP’s efforts in vain. There is power in authority yes, but like Spider-man said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” It will be a big hurdle now to get back what they have lost and to stay in authority despite what happened. The ball now is for them to cook something up in order to regain it. But let’s hope it’s not something too heroic, or too scripted.

I sympathize with the many police officers who have worked hard to earn their badge and then find it be tarnished by this one act of selfishness. We don’t know yet how the proceedings will go and we are also not in the position to judge but hopefully we see this with fresh eyes; that we should realize where to put our judgment and liking for the police.

It will be hard work all over again and chief PNP should know how to make it work, like he always does.