We can only commiserate with Acting Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Col. Hansel Marantan in his present predicament.
Yes, the good Colonel is complaining about accusations of certain netizens that some of his policemen, specially the ones who were only assigned lately in the city during the Quiboloy search controversy, are allegedly planting illegal drugs evidence against motorists during checkpoints inspections.
Based on reports posted by some netizens, when inspections are done on a particular checkpoint, policemen secretly plant drug sachets inside car trunks, especially when the unsuspecting driver open it from the inside and does not bother to get out to observe the inspection. Then, according to netizens’ posts, the policemen at that particular checkpoint let go the driver but call the policemen manning the next checkpoint that some suspicious substances may be inside the trunk of a vehicle bearing this color and plate number.
Naturally, when the vehicle approaches the next checkpoint and is being flagged down the substance discreetly placed inside the trunk is discovered. And the driver gets arrested for possession of illegal drugs.
According to the netizens the primary intention of this activity allegedly done by policemen from other areas and assigned only recently in Davao City, is to make it appear that the claim of local officials in Davao City that proliferation of prohibited drugs in the area is well contained, is not true.
This is what made Colonel Marantan’s blood boils. For who would not when the claim is apparently pointing to his inability to rein in his policemen in planting evidence just to destroy the peaceful image of the city! Or worst, he may be suspected of tolerating such acts by his policemen.
Besides, by pinpointing to policemen posted in the city only few months ago as the alleged culprit, is one clear insinuation that the policemen are assigned in Davao with the purpose of destroying its reputation as a “drug-free” city.
Our take on the matter however, is that some malice is hidden in the allegation, specifically the one that points to policemen-outsider who are allegedly the manning checkpoints and are the ones doing the planting of evidence.
For us, and many others, the allegations smack of dirty politics.
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There is so much talk about the Iglesia Ni. Cristo (INC) peace rally held last Monday, January 13.
Yes, there is no arguing that the rally held simultaneously in strategic centers of the country was peaceful from beginning to end. There is no doubt too, that such feat can only be attributed to the organizers and those on the ground to help maintain peace and orderliness of all the activities.
Definitely the organizers, the top officials of the INC, deserve the Filipinos’ Congratulations. The only thing that many observers believe, was a “blot” in the erstwhile non-political but purely a rally for peace and unity, was the appearance, and even speeches of known senatorial candidates of certain political parties.
There was also that cleverly hidden political component of the peace and unity rally – the supposed open support of the INC to the call of the President for Congress not to pursue VP Sara’s impeachment.
It was actually a cleverly masqueraded political action of support to the Vice President who is now facing an acid test in her political life with the impeachment moves after getting herself embroiled in an investigation by the quadruple committee of the House. She is alleged to have misused the confidential funds provided her VP and DepEd offices.
Hence, all that transpired during the rally that were clearly with political connotation somehow install the bar that hinders the attainment of the announced purpose of the massive INC rally. That is, giving peace a chance in Philippine politics, and the unity so wanting among the leaders of the country, specifically the President and the Vice President. The two unexpectedly parted ways with reasons so unclear to the Filipino people.
The question now is whether or not the number of attendees in the INC rally will be enough to make the Congressmen – or the administration for that matter – cower in fear and force them to abandon the impeachment cases?
Will Congress renege on their Constitutionally-mandated duty when certain influential sectors of society manifest their intention to impede the performance of such duty?
We and the rest of the Filipinos will surely know the answers to the questions within the next few weeks. And we can only hope that whatever will be the Congressmen’s decision on the impeachment cases is a product of the wisest of their wisdom.
