“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
Was it a populist rant or brotherly malasakit (deep concern) from a retired police officer-turned-lawmaker who is tormented by the humiliation suffered by a “promdi” cop? Pangasinan second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil earned “pogi points” from former Philippine National Police (PNP) colleagues when he lambasted Guimbal Mayor Oscar ‘Oca’ Garin, Sr. and his son, Iloilo first district Rep. Oscar ‘Richard’ Garin, Jr., in his privilege speech last Monday.
The two members of the feared (but fizzy) Garin dynasty of Iloilo have since been slapped with criminal charges following last month’s alleged mauling of Police Officer 3 (PO3) Federico Macaya, Jr. The incident was such a scandal for the entire PNP hierarchy, they immediately stripped the two of police escort privileges.
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte has called for the filing of appropriate cases against them.
The Garins eventually surrendered their firearms through another family member, Iloilo Vice Governor Christine Garin.
After about three weeks since the incident, Bataoil, who previously served as Police Regional Office 6 operations and plans division chief, took to the rostrum and unloaded.
“My heart bleeds for PO3 Macaya and many others who, like him, are all but nameless men and women in uniform quietly serving, and even dying, albeit some of them being subjected as well to assault, disrespect, and abuse by persons in high elective office – the so-called mighty and powerful. I condemn in the strongest terms the fate that befell PO3 Federico Macaya, Jr. of the Guimbal Municipal Police Station when he was subjected to kicks, slaps, and fist blows while the hapless policeman was handcuffed, unable to defend himself, and held at gunpoint.”
He also emphasized, the Garins and other public officials are “not high and mighty.”
An excellent display of courage and grit for Bataoil, it even drew a standing ovation from PNP personnel present in the chamber.
However, prior to the Macaya case, news about police officers as victims of violence – even murder – had been hogging news headline. In terms of cases involving Ilonggos, former Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office member, Police Superintendent Santiago Rapiz; SP01 Ronaldo Alag; and Police Senior Inspector Porferio Gabuya, Jr. were among those who have been murdered. Like Macaya, these incidents took place between November and December of last year.
Tagged as alleged drug coddlers and formally charged in court, Rapiz was killed in an “encounter” with fellow cops during an anti-drug operation, while Alag and Gabuya were mowed down by bullets fired by riding-in-tandem assailants.
They were murdered without due process and forever silenced and shamed without any chance to clear their names. However, because they were linked with ugly activity, they were portrayed unjustly and appallingly in the media and died like movie villains. A contrast to Macaya, who easily earned public sympathy after being allegedly kicked, slapped, and spat on while cuffed.
Did Bataoil’s heart not bleed when those other police officers faced worse fate than Macaya?/WDJ