Senate President Vicente Sotto III said members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are being "too nice" in enforcing the country's laws against violators and suspected criminals.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Sotto made the observation Tuesday as pushed for an allocation for a program to educate and refresh to policemen the protocols in carrying out their mandate.
In his interpellation on the P191-billion proposed 2021 budget of the PNP, the Senate chief said he was "very much concerned" and disturbed with the shootout that killed a Highway Patrol Group (HPG) officer in Cavite last November 6, showing to his colleagues the viral video of what transpired before the incident.
HPG officers flagged down a gray car for not having a license plate and conduction sticker. In the video, the law enforcers were seen asking for documents as they explained to the driver and passenger their violations.
Gunshots were later heard until a bloodied body of a policeman was captured in the footage. The car sped off from the scene.
Police later identified the slain HPG officer as Police Chief Master Sgt. Julius Ancalas. The passenger and the gunman, Methusael Cebrian, was also killed. The driver, Reymund Zuñiga, surrendered to authorities two days after the incident.
"The reason I’m looking for some kind of refresher course or training program for personnel for review is I find that in the video, there were protocols that should have been followed. I understand the point na magalang 'yong mga pulis natin (that policemen should always be respectful). Correct especially kung traffic stop lang or violation, okay naman 'yong magalang (if it was a simple traffic violation, being respectful is okay)," Sotto said.
"Because walang plate number walang conduction sticker, ayaw magbigay ng lisensya, ayaw magbigay ng ID, dapat arestado antimano (Because there was no plate number, no conduction sticker, and they refuse to submit their license or ID, they should have been arrested immediately)."
"Eh sa America yan, 'Step out of the vehicle', ganon kaagad 'yan, tutukan ng baril yan eh (If that happened in America, you will be told to step out of the vehicle, and that guns will be pointed at you)," he added, continuing on to narrate his and his brother's experience when they were flagged for overspeeding in Cleveland, Ohio.
"Dito sa atin sumosobra ang bait natin kung minsan Okay 'yong magalang, okay 'yong mabait ka, pero kung kriminal na kasuap mo, hindi pwedeng mabait (But here in the Philippines, we are too nice sometimes. It's okay to be respectful and nice, but when you are talking to a criminal, you should not be nice)," Sotto said.
"Dapat ino-orient natin ang police natin lagi na oo, magalang tayo, 'pag dating sa you are serving the law, dapat medyo forceful ka (We should be orienting our police that yes, we should be respectful, but when you are serving the law, you should be forceful."
"Why did they have to wait for that guy to come out with gun blazing and armed to the teeth?" he pressed.
Leaders of the PNP agreed with Sotto's view, admitting that the HPG officers in the incident were not able to adequately observe their protocols.
"They are in agreement with you that there could have been an improvement in the protocols. In the first instance, hiningan ng lisenya (when they asked for license), that was the correct protocol but the moment the driver put up his window, and refuse to obey or answer the questions of the police officers, that should have been considered already as a hostile act. And they should have made the corresponding action," said Sen. Sonny Angara, Senate finance committee chair, as quoting PNP officials who were present in plenary.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, former PNP chief, told Sotto that there is no need for additional budget for such a training program, saying it is part of the annual appropriation of the organization.
Angara said that besides their specialized training for its personnel, the PNP conducts a police information and continuing education program once a month.
He said the PNP has learned its lesson and assured the better training of its members.