By Manuel L. Morato
I’ve been observing the penalties our law enforcers are imposing on the violators such as, for example, those who do not wear the masks. In Pasay City, as I recently heard, those not wearing the mask are penalized two thousand pesos (P2,000). Where does the money go? Sa local government coffer ba?
My point is, bakit pirming ang penalty ay pera? Hindi ba puwedeng ibahin at panahon ng kahirapan ngayon? Natulong na nga ng konti ang gobiyerno, pero nakakabig din ng mga law enforcers from the so-called “violators.”
Cash penalties are rampant, kaliwa’t kanan, enough to impoverish our kababayans. That’s cruel for that’s precisely what many of our people do not have. It aggravates the situation. This is precisely what leads them to what they call “istambay” or kanto boys.” It’s out of desperation. They struggle to exist no matter how. Let’s face it, walang choice itong mga ganyan na tao. More poverty will set in. More trouble for the country. May kasabihan na “ang taong gutom ay hindi na nag-iisip. Kapit sa patalim” ika nga.
Di ba puwede, mag-isip tayo ng ibang paraan? Walang trabaho ang karamihan ng ating kababayan. They’ve been hit by the Coronavirus very heavily as we all have been affected as well, too harshly.
Please allow me to give a suggestion: Why penalize those not wearing masks? Maybe they are on their way to buy masks. What I am leading to is a much simple way of making people wear masks, when they step out of their homes, not to threaten them with cash penalties which they do not have. What if they don’t have P2K or P5K pesos? Will they be arrested and put in jail? The time of our law enforcers are wasted just over the implementation of their new campaign. Massive information campaign is foremost. Hindi nalalaman ng karamihan kung ano ang bawal na naman.
Before such things are implemented on those not wearing a mask; or those riding in tandem wherein it’s been required for the wife or anyone sitting on the backseat of the motorcycle (or angkas) to put a barrier. How? Saan kakapit ‘yong pasahero sa likod? Again it does not make sense to me. Pampahirap lang sa taongbayan for it’s quite silly and unnecessary. Why do I say this? Kasi kung mag-asawa ‘yan, they cannot be put apart in their home nor on board the motorcycle.
Actually I doubt if the Coronavirus can withstand the strong wind on board a motorcycle. The virus particles can be blown away.
This is my opinion if I may be allowed to suggest an alternative:
On the compulsory order of wearing masks, pass it on to the buses, jeepneys, business establishments, etc… Huwag sila magsakay at magpapasok ng mga passengers/customers na walang mask na suot, palabasin or get penalized, not with cash penalty but not accepting them on board. Do not allow customers to enter without masks. In other words, impose penalties on the malls and other establishments na magpapasok ng walang mask pati taxis, jeeps and buses. Sila ang dapat managot. Yong taong hindi makasakay is a punishment in itself. He/she will never forget that.
Establishments have security guards. Let that be their duty to screen each and every customer entering by seeing to it that masks are worn, without which, they cannot enter. It’s being done now. The same with the buses, jeepneys, MRT and other public transports, such as taxis, grab, bicycle, motorcycle, etc… Huwag naman sadyain manghuli sa kalsada. Pagsabihan na lang muna at may automatic social distancing naman.
What I am trying to say is, avoid confrontation with policemen for they can be too confrontational to the ordinary citizens solely over a mask. The policemen can be delegated to more important tasks on law and order. This wearing of masks is too petty for them to attend to. Pass this on to stores, malls, all business establishments, taxis, buses, jeepneys – all public transportations. And don’t catch them in open space. They won’t be able to get anywhere. Hindi naman papapasukin sa pupuntahan niya. That should be a lesson which will make them wear the mask.
The public in general must be taught to be responsible and not to be forced to do something brazenly.
That has been the problem in the U.S. the interpretation of “freedom” is so loosely interpreted. But then, those who disobey and are hard-headed have only one choice: Stay alive or die in these times we are all in. The virus will go after them! ‘Yong virus ang hahabol sa kanila, hindi ‘yong pulis.
In short, the wearing of masks which is now being enforced must be delegated to the citizenry. Ostracize them. Ang matigas ang ulo, layuan maski kilala at kaibigan.
Those kinds must be taught to protect the others if they are on a suicidal journey. Spare the others; don’t drag them down to perdition as some hard-headed individuals are wont to do. Intensify information campaign. The Barangays can help by issuing leaflets for public awareness.
Huwag na lang sana mangyari ang nangyayari sa America, masyado namang over-reacting ang mga pulis doon. Noon pa nong ako’y nag-aaral sa America, may pagka “Nazi style” na ang mga pulis. Too confrontational and brutal. It does not work. Meron naman some other ways to guide the public. Let’s avoid public’s anger if we can, one of which is being tough on people who committed minor offenses. Give them a chance. But for what I hear, even a minor offense is too harshly treated. To be blottered is shameful enough.
Balance the penalty to the offense committed. No matter the grievances committed, balance it with humanity and a little understanding. Mabigat na ‘yong haharapin nong tao, mamaltratuhin pa.
People in general can be dealt with some kindness. May mga tao na can be dealt with humanely; and some not. Parang mga animal na. Put them in a cage. But don’t maltreat them. Tao pa rin sila.
When I was in college interned in the university in the U.S., an almost unbelievable incident happened to a friend of my classmate. This is what he related to me: His friend met a girl in a bar in Los Angeles. The girl flirted with his friend. So he invited her to his hotel room nearby. After closing and locking the door, the woman pulled out handcuffs from her handbag and handcuffed his friend and brought him to the police station to file charges of solicitation and “pick-up.” It turned out that the girl whom he met in the bar was a policewoman precisely monitoring prostitutes and males indulging in “pick-up girls;” or called “call girls”?
It is kind of unfair because it was the policewoman who led and enticed his friend that led him to do what he did.
At that time, the campaign against prostitution was on heightened level when most Americans had values and were conservative and “old school values” still remained in the 50s.
Based on my observation, when America was invaded by a loose interpretation of “democracy” and opened the borders to just about anyone, it was not good. American democracy must apply to all its citizens. But the Democrats were in power prior to this present administration loosely applied it to all, including non-citizens. That was not right. Consider foreigners as foreigners, until such time they become citizens. While in the process, they must behave as citizens of their countries who wish to be absorbed by the U.S.A., if they are deserving.
Thank President Trump for he alone saw what problems America is facing now. It is not racism. It’s behavioral and disciplinary measures. The immigrants feel that they are in “the land of the free”; and some are abusing it to the hilt. Hence the border walls!
Remember, always remember that freedom is not absolute, not now, not before and never will be. The law on right and wrong will continue to exist.
Only animals practice absolute freedom in the jungle; in the wild. But once domesticated, they too can be trained to obey the rules of the house.
To conclude, mark the following: The needy should not be disciplined in terms of monetary penalties. On the contrary, it can foment hate and anger. Lalong nagwawala kasi they have no choice. Anong ipapakain sa mga anak, sa kani-kanilang mga pamilya. No matter how poor the people are, they will not accept when deprived of food for their families. Suicidal na ang tendency. Maski animals nga, pag may mga sisiw ang inahing manok, lalaban. Ganoon din ang ibang animal. Their brood are protected. Lalaban talaga.
Ang pumasok sa sasakyan, tindahan, malls, and other establishments, etc… ang dapat ma-control pag walang masks. Which I think they are doing. Ang problema ay yong mga naglalakad sa kalsada. May nahahawa ba sa kalsada? In open air?
Impose na lang penalties kung saan pumasok ang kliyenteng walang mask. Sa kalsada naman, beach at open spaces pati sa kalsada, hindi naman dapat sitahin. Higpitan na lang ang transportations at business establishments. Sila na lang ang ipenalize, instead of the individual na wala na ngang hanap-buhay. I don’t believe na nagkakahawaan sa beach for sea air helps to clean the respiratory system and prevents lung diseases for the sea breeze has a lot of minerals such as sodium and potassium.
Survival na ang usapan dito. Mabuti pa nga ang mga pulis, may suweldo naman buwan-buwan.
Huwag namang tapakan pa ‘yong walang-wala na dahil sa sitwasyon natin ngayon. It’s a situation na tinatawag: Kapit sa patalim!
Seriously, parang fund-raising na ang labas. Maling fund-raising na ito sa panahon ng kahirapan. Sino bang nakikinabang sa “fund-raising” na ito?
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com