To Serve and Protect? 

Written by Mohan Rain De Jesus and Reyn Luise Villegas
Illustrated by Levinjon Spencer Yulo and Kei Aliah Faune
Posted on December 22, 2020 | 5:00 PM

“Tama na po, may exam pa po ako bukas,” the last cry heard from the street that night. The pandemic is not the only deadly event that has claimed the lives of Filipinos. From the killing of Kian Delos Santos to the recent killing of Sonya and Frank Gregorio, all these point to the problem of police brutality. Since 2016, the police have been given an immense amount of power. With the great power they hold, abuse is what they have decided to use it with. Almost every day for the past four years, news of violence and death stem from police pulling the trigger.

Unfortunately, the abuse of power in a shape of a firearm claimed the lives of the Filipino people yet again. Police Corporal Jonel Nuezca entered the premises of the Gregorio’s household to investigate who was behind the noise of the boga, an improvised noisemaker used during the celebration of New Year’s eve. Aside from this, the two parties also had a dispute regarding the right of way during the altercation of the parties. Upon discovering that it was Frank Gregorio who was behind the shooting of the boga, Nuezca planned to arrest Gregorio. It was at this point that Sonya Gregorio, Frank’s mother, intervened. The conflict further escalated when the daughter of Nuezca screamed at Mrs. Gregorio’s face saying, “My father is a policeman!” In which Mrs. Gregorio firmly responded, “I don’t care!” Nuezca then hastily pulled out his gun and shot Sonya and Frank Gregorio, who were both unarmed. Two lives lost all because of a noisemaker.

Just last month, during the crisis typhoon Ulysses brought to the country, Harjan Pacyao Lagman was abducted by unidentified men as seen in a video footage. His decapitated remains were found the following day. It was later revealed that members of a drug enforcement unit of the Cordillera regional office were involved in the kidnapping and slaying of the 25-year-old Baguio resident. Earlier this year, former military man Winston Ragos was shot by Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo after being tagged as a quarantine violator. Although the police were told by people that Ragos was mentally ill and unarmed, the ex-soldier who happened to be experiencing war shock was shot dead twice. However, incidents like this not only happened this year. In 2017, Kian Delos Santos was also shot by the police because they claimed that the 17-year-old student resisted and shot them first. However, according to witnesses and the CCTV footage, it showed that the student had no chance of fighting, let alone in shooting them. In 2018, the three cops involved in Kian’s death were convicted. What may seem like four isolated incidents at first begins to show a glaring problem within the country.

For years, people have been suffering from the violence of those whose main objective is to serve and protect the masses. No matter how loud the cries of the numerous victims who seek justice, the ones who must listen are the ones who leave them silent. From claiming that the victims resisted to claiming cases are merely isolated incidents, others seem to overlook the real problem. Even though incidents involving armed policemen are said to be isolated, the fact that the abuse of power does exist remains as it is. How can the victims be free from oppression when the ones who must maintain peace are the ones who oppress them? 

“I don’t care!” may be the last words of Sonya Gregorio but this is what they may have thought the moment victims were killed. There will be more victims if the culture of hatred and violence perpetuates in the already unjust system. Where do they get the guts and the confidence to use their authority and power over unarmed civilians? Where do they get the encouragement to shoot and kill instantaneously and impulsively? Why do we now feel threatened in the presence of those who swore to serve and protect?

PHOTOS USED:

Retired corporal Winston Ragos. Photo Courtesy of Ragos' Family
Kian Delos Santos. Photo from the Philippine Star
"Yakap ng Ina" Artwork by The Visual Arts Aurelio Castro III