ACCORDING to reports, two brutal murders were committed allegedly by two police officers in Iloilo City on Jan. 19, 2020. Killed was call center agent Alain Mueller, 42, of Jaro and businessman Delfin Britanico, 36, of La Paz.
The two principal suspects are policemen. Reportedly involved are Police Corporal Joseph Andrew Joven and another police corporal, Jerry Villanueva.
According to reports, after fatally shooting Alain Mueller, the suspects stopped at a vacant lot in Barangay Nabitasan to strip off the white stickers from their rented Mitsubishi Adventure vehicle. Britanico, who was on his way home to Barangay Nabitasan, saw what they were doing, so they also shot him dead!
Well, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has come into the case upon the request of former assemblyman Buddy Britanico, father of the victim. The suspects were charged with murder and theft.
We have now a new police director for the Iloilo City police force. He is Colonel Eric Dampal who was appointed to the position on Feb. 20. He was formerly the police director of the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office in Mindanao. We hope will look into cases of police officers killing civilians they are supposed to protect.
Why do law enforcers become law violators? Does the local police organization conduct a periodic character check on their officers and men similar to what banks do to their officers?
In the commercial bank where we worked before, an officer must live with his family and he should only keep one. If there was another, it could force him to engage in “extracurricular activities” to earn more money.
Working in the police organization has a different atmosphere because a police officer has also duties at night. What is important is that he should come home to his family after duty hours.
But is it true that some police officers are gallant and have girlfriends they visit now and then instead of going home directly? Worse are those who keep another family and have children to support. Then the problem starts.
Does our police force conduct regular character checks on their officers, especially to look into their activities after duty hours like what banks do? If banks do this when they deal only with money, how much more with the police whose duty includes safeguarding lives?
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GEM OF THOUGHT
Halin sa malapad nga dagat,
Magagmay nga balud gapinalumba,
Pakadto sa higad sang baybay,
Upod ang mga isda!
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