Cops on motorbikes should walk

“Patrol cops riding in tandem on motorbikes would soon be seen around Metro Manila as police authorities shift their attention to securing the capital during the Christmas season.”

Dona Pazzibugan of the Philippine Daily Inquirer brought us this news yesterday and I almost fell off my seat upon reading it.

You might ask: “Why? Is there something wrong with cops on motorbikes being seen again on the streets of Nick Joaquin’s favorite city?”

Yes, because “being seen again” as applied to the police conjures up an image that they, who should in the first place always be seen, will re-appear, show up anew, physically materialize, or at the very least, breathe again.

You mean the police have disappeared? Vanished? Went into hiding? Or exited from this earth?

Oh, my. So, we should welcome their coming back?

Of course, we should. Having the police patrolling the city makes you feel safe. No? Opinion is divided. There are some who would rejoice at the sight of a police officer nearby. There are some who would cringe in fear upon seeing one, particularly if the cop wears sunglasses and it is night.

I belong to the latter. I feel like I would pee when I see a policeman. Don’t ask me why. Just run for your life. The guy might have sore eyes. Worst, he could be a criminal element masquerading as an officer of the law.

This is not to say that all police officers are rotten or bad. There are many men in police uniform who are officers and gentlemen; who serve the people with courage and without fear or favor. But just like in any forest, there are snakes. And it just so happened that the Philippine National Police is a large forest with plenty of reptilian population, if we go by what we read in the papers and if we are to believe the experience of some who had horrendous encounters with men in police uniform.

I’ll say this straight: The reputation of policemen in the Philippines is not something to be envied. Some of them are “kotong” cops. Some serve as protectors of jueteng lords and politicians who are sometimes indistinguishable from each other. Some are illegal drug users, if not dealers and couriers. Some are pimps. Some are illegal loggers. A few others are hostage takers, and so on ad nauseam.

Now, if these are the kind of cops that will ride motorcycles and patrol our streets, heaven save us.

“Philippine National Police director general Raul Bacalzo has re-activated the motorized anti-street crime operatives (MASCO) as soon as possible to thwart criminals from taking advantage of the people’s extra cash during the holiday season,” Dona Pazzibugan wrote.

I apologize and please excuse me for being harsh on the police, but I doubt Gen. Bacalzo very much.

You see, the sound alone of the name of the team that the good general is fielding now that the Christmas season is fast approaching doesn’t inspire much confidence. It sounds like “PA-MASKO” and the reason, according to the news, why the MASCO is being re-activated is very clear from the above: to safeguard the people’s extra-cash.

Wouldn’t it be that they will go out on motorbikes to sing Christmas carols? Hindi kaya sila mama-MASCO lang? I hope not.

Yes, there is something wrong with what the PNP plans because the PNP has very few motorcycles and a limited supply of fuel. So, I think the plan will more likely be just that: a plan. And even if it pushes through, it will not last because of the reasons cited above.

The better plan, Gen. Bacalzo, is to require members of the PNP to just walk and not ride motorbikes.

Yes, let them walk the streets of Manila, two-by-twos, buddy-system, like the koban in Japan.

I agree that police visibility is a deterrent to crime. But police visibility can’t be had if cops are thundering through our streets on motorbikes—here in a second and then gone again—to nowhere.

Getting our cops walking, instead of riding, will serve us—and the PNP—better. People, pedestrians particularly, will have assurance that when a criminal element strikes and there is a police officer walking nearby, the chance of the criminal getting apprehended will be great.

Walking will also exercise the muscles of our cops. Done daily, it will burn the fats off the police’s bulging beer bellies. It will spare them from heart attacks and strokes and they will live longer.

Who knows, if only Police Sr. Inspector Rolando Mendoza walked—and did not hail a tourist bus—from Intramuros to Rizal Park, he might have not entertained the idea of taking hostage the bus passengers. So, you see walking is better than riding.

I hope Gen. Bacalzo will re-consider his plan. Don’t let ‘em cops ride, G’nral. Let ‘em walk. Let ‘em sweat under the sun’s heat.