BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
I WAS a bit appalled by the news last week about a 57-year-old man who stole five trays of eggs at the Burgos Public Market in Bacolod City.
Looking malnourished, the suspect, Cloves Elbanbuena of Barangay 31, was an e-trike driver. He stole eggs on July 19, and the following day, he was an instant online sensation. This was because his face was fully captured by a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera from the store where he stole the eggs.
Operatives of Police Station 4 (PS4) immediately launched a manhunt operation. The suspect was nabbed on Lopez Jaena Street in Barangay 26 around 2 p.m. on July 20.
Out of the blue, he became an “infamous celebrity”. Online bashers “feasted” on Elbanbuena’s photos on board a police patrol car with matching horrid comments.
Media, too, joined the “donnybroke” of the day, of course, for rating purposes.
But it’s heart-wrenching to see Elbanbuena in a video kneeling down and asking for forgiveness; he stole the eggs out of hunger, he said.
The owner of the eggs, Elisa Catacata, decided not to file charges. So Elbanbuena was released after an 18-hour reglementary period of detention.
‘MOCKED-TO-THE MAX’
Yes, no case has been filed but the damage to Elbanbuena’s person was so horrifying. He was “mocked-to-the max” on social media (socmed).
Three netizens notably defended him on Facebook (FB). Netizen James Sabio said: “Ako na lang mabayad sang five trays, pasensyahon lang anay si Manong please.”
“Kung pigado gani – post dayun biskan sintimos lang ang ginkawat pero kung DAMO kwarta kag may pangalan biskan billion sini ginkawat ok lang,” stressed Octavio Ratchelle.
Mjay Figueroa also said, “Five trays ng itlog, kulong agad, pero pag milyong yung utang ok lang.”
I can’t believe PS4 operatives didn’t observe certain protocols in handling the case with utmost care. Yes, Elbanbuena committed a crime – thievery! But did the cops know first the very background behind his act?
For me, Elbanuena’s physical stature simply demanded empathy. Stealing eggs out of hunger, by all means, dictates human understanding. Elbanbuena is homeless and living alone in a trike terminal near Police Station 6 (PS6) in Barangay Taculing.
Hence, PS4 men should have known better what to do. Elbanbuena was paraded on socmed. It was like the PS4 cops nailed him to a cross for a petty crime he did to address his aching stomach.
Mocking Elbanbuena via FB was tantamount to stripping his entire humanity as a person.
NO COMPASSION?
Really, my heart bleeds for Elbanbuena. He is already “more than hapless”. Much more when I was told that the commander of the PS4 is Police Major Ritchie Gohe.
I knew Major Gohe. He, too, came from a poor family. And when he became a policeman, he searched his biological father, a Chinese national also living in Bacolod City.
I wrote a series of articles on his life and journey searching for his father. I succeeded, and Gohe felt complete when he finally met his long-lost father.
Therefore, I can’t imagine why he allowed the “mishandling” of Elbanbuena’s case within his very station. For me, it’s ironic!
‘TINY FRY’
True! Elbanbuena’s arrest was an accomplishment for PS4. But take note he’s just “tiny fry”. To consider his arrest as a major accomplishment is delusional.
I do believe police have etiquettes in handling cases with special concern(s). If I am not mistaken, these are within their Revised Philippine National Police Operational Procedures (RPNPOP) Manual published in December 2013. They need to revisit Rules 19 and 20 (Booking the Arrested Suspects).
There, it wasn’t stated that after booking or processing the suspect, he/she will be paraded via socmed.
May I also suggest for PS4 operatives to read an article published by Journal of Law, Criminology, and Police Science in May-June 1953 titled:” Enquiry Into The Causes of Crime” by Giorgio Florita.
There, the author, a Doctor of Social Sciences and former chief of police in Mantova, Italy, developed his theory of criminal action which has attracted attention and consideration of scientific men, though it discards some established systems of criminal thought.
Moreover, Major Gohe and his men should also reflect what the Bible says in Proverbs 14:31: “If you mistreat the poor, you insult your Creator.”
Too, they may be knowledgeable of what German aviator and airline executive-turned- religious leader Dieter F. Uchtdorf had said about compassion: “Let our heart be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”
Elbanbuena’s case is classic example of what Uchtdorf means. “Simpleng itlog” will really matter for a hungry orphan like him./PN
