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What do General Debold Sinas, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, and Sergeant Jonel Nuezca have in common? Both have a strong and proud sense of entitlement that operates in an environment of impunity. In this combination of circumstances, the lives of ordinary citizens are often at risk.
General Sinas felt that he had the right to a “little morning” since he was the powerful chief of the Police of the National Capital Region. He knew about the planned birthday party and allowed it to take place in violation of rules and regulations designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. If he pretended to ignore the planned party, he must be a terrible intelligence officer since he had no idea what his men were planning.
Sergeant Nuezca decided that he was entitled to a little peace and quiet, and when he was not shown the respect and obedience due to a high ranking police NCO, he decided that he could take the law into his own hands, shooting two head people in the point -Blank range. Perhaps he felt extremely confident that he could get away with it, just as his boss was able to evade any punishment and eventually rose to the post of head of the PNP over the heads of senior police lieutenant generals.
As I wrote in a previous column, there is a vital link between leadership by example and discipline in the ranks. Soldiers and police follow rules and obey orders when they observe the leader imposing the same conditions on himself. When this does not happen, a sense of entitlement combined with impunity leads to a dangerous situation.
The New York Times in a recent article, written by Jason Gutiérrez, noted that “the shootings are the latest in a series of murders involving the Philippine National Police and that it is currently the focus of an international investigation. The International Criminal Court (ICC) said last week that it believed there was evidence to support claims that the authorities had committed crimes against humanity as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs in the Philippines. “
“Many members of the Philippine police are just out of control,” said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch. “As with many recent incidents of police violence, Nuezca’s murder of Sonya Gregorio and her son, Frank, was blatant and underscores the impunity that prevails in the Philippines,” he said. “It took place in the context of an environment conducive to police violence that President Duterte himself has encouraged.”
The only way to rescue something good from this senseless tragedy and save what remains of the shattered image of the PNP is for General Sinas to issue a formal apology to the Filipino people and present a letter of resignation, taking into account the principle of responsibility of the I send. about the cold-blooded murder of a mother and her child. Of course, we are dreaming and this will not happen anytime soon. But we must say it. Sometimes the best and most decent thing a man can do is just walk away.
There are other issues that I wanted to comment on before the end of the year, especially in regards to our public servants in government. Let me dwell on one more. We need more teamwork and less bombast, less of “me” and more of “us.” We don’t need brilliant minds. We need men of pure common sense along with a great deal of humility. Keep in mind that, ultimately, it is Heavenly Father who gives and ultimately who takes, no matter who drops the ball.
Our wishes for the New Year are usually of happiness and prosperity. I pray for a return to sanity under leadership that inspires and provides equal and swift justice for all of our people.
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