By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
Each time the Philippine National Police (PNP) parades a civilian before cameras as a criminal for donning a police uniform at a Halloween party, it only puts itself under harsher scrutiny. Yes, the uniform must be respected – the law protects it.
But when a single partygoer is threatened with jail and made to publicly grovel for wearing a ripped police shirt, the spectacle says more about the institution’s fragility and conscience than the offense itself.
Let’s be honest: we can count on one hand the civilians who’ve ever crossed that line of parading in a cop costume. But it would take a full head of hair to count the cops who’ve brought real disgrace to the uniform — those who steal, extort, kill, or simply sleep on the job.
The PNP, led by its Chief of Chiefs, keeps crying foul over a costume, yet it seems to ignore the rot that stains the badge from within. PNP Chief Nartatez: You can’t claim moral authority from inside a glass house. Respect for the uniform begins with those sworn to wear it.
STL & jueteng
Meanwhile, here’s a job for cops — a dirty game being played in Muntinlupa City. It’s masked in the legitimate name of STL or small town lottery, but stinks of “jueteng” – yes, the illegal kind that preys on hard-up workers and contributes squat to the government.
While sanctioned by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), STL operations in the city of Mayor Ruffy Biazon have become a convenient cover for illegal betting. “Bookies” have been using the STL draw results to run their own gambling racket in all corners of Muntinlupa. No surprise then that STL earnings in this side of the metropolis are barely trickling in.
Clearly, if you operate STL as jueteng, then the bets are already siphoned off to gambling lords even before they reach government coffers. I suggest Mayor Biazon ask his police chief, Col. Roberto Domingo, why this is happening right under their noses.
What’s actually worse is if Domingo actually knows this is going on and some of his subordinates are getting a cut. If that’s not the case, Domingo should go out hunting with the boys. I’m sure they’d catch a lot!
As for the PCSO — attention! The mess reportedly started when a new STL franchise holder took over from, what’s the name – Jojo Alvarez? I don’t know the name of the new guy in charge of STL in Munti, but since Alvarez, the jueteng-style operations have only intensified.
The fact is, the PCSO is armed to the teeth with all the power to regulate, yet it seems conveniently paralyzed to address these issues and grind down on erring STL operators. Why don’t you investigate? Name them. Shame them. Strip their license.
The PCSO must cut this illegal practice short and make sure these “pasaway” operators never get another franchise anywhere, anytime, again. But how come we hardly come across such definitive actions from the agency? Is it true that cozy connections keep them untouchable? We all hope not.
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