A sucker is
born every minute

Two girls visiting Bacolod reported to the police they were held up. The police investigated and found it was a hoax.

Supposing they did not investigate and just recorded them as part of the statistics, it would have come out Bacolod is creeping with criminals. Good that they investigated.

I am not surprised with crime reports like these. Criminal elements are everywhere. And they tend to congregate where police and law enforcement are weak. It could have been their perception that they could do it more easily here.

That could have been a great insult to the police. But police chief Pete Merced once said, he accepted the challenge and proving he does.

* * *

Not only the holdup hoax and the so-called "bodol-bodol" gang that victimized a very nice 79-year-old lady lawyer but yesterday, Mrs. Haydee T. Mirasol, wife of Bert of Mirasol Tire Supply complained to me, her sister sent her last Christmas a 100-dollar crossed check, to be deposited only to payee's account.

Her sister's bank in the U.S. showed the check was deposited in Mrs. Haydee Mirasol's account but in a Manila bank and the signature was forged.

Mrs. Mirasol was writing the U.S. Embassy.

* * *

Police in the hold-up hoax must pursue legal action in court. Give the case the widest publicity to impress on people that crime does not pay.

I have always been calling for strong leadership. But we need above all strong law enforcement agencies. We don't want criminals to thumb their noses at the law. The late J. Edgar Hoover, a U.S. institution who was director of FBI for more than 40 years became popular because it was he who put criminals on the run.

When he was told to leave the criminals to settle their crimes with their God, Hoover said, precisely, it was his job to hasten the criminals' meeting with their God with whom they settle matters.

* * *

What made Senator Fred Lim popular as head of the NBI?

You remember an alleged drug lord years ago, Don Pepe Oyson? He was killed inside an NBI van while on the way to Camp Crame. Reports then said, Don Pepe "grabbed the agent's gun and, in defense, shot Oyson."

There were media insinuations then, it was an "execution." This Fred Lim denied. Whatever it was, people cheered Fred Lim. He became a hero for "hastening" Oyson's meeting with his God.

When then Bacolod police chief Fred Geolingo was charged of the shooting of a Navy man who allegedly held up the Planters Bank here, he told media the fellow while being brought to his safe house in Pahanocoy "grabbed his escort's firearm" and was "shot in self defense."

The people cheered.

* * *

We are not advocating for the extra-legal execution of criminals. For while we have been advocating for strong leadership, we must first have a strong law enforcement.

There is no progress unless there is peace. And there is no peace unless we have justice.

Strong hand is the only language understood by criminal elements. Criminal elements always laugh at weak law enforcers. That is why the public must support law enforcement.

During the launching of the Blue Sky ferry we met local NBI chief lawyer Philip Pecache. He thanked us for our support of the NBI. I told him media must be supportive of law enforcement to be effective but likewise vigilant against their abuses.

I hope both Pecache and Merced work to impress on criminals that it is unhealthy for them to operate in Bacolod.

* * *

The so-called "bodol-bodol" gang is not from other places. They are just plain swindlers present everywhere and just waiting for an opportune time to strike.

But those who victimized Atty. Luz Dato Lacson might have gone far away already. Three million pesos could have easily helped them hibernate in some places for months or even years.

But they'll come back. I know they have victimized very many people already some of whom were afraid to report to the police thinking it would be known they were fooled. And here Atty. Luz Dato Lacson is to be commended for not being afraid to come out and giving statements to media.

I know Luz does not mind the amount. Her main fear is that other people will also be victimized.

* * *

And who are victimized? The naïve, the gullible, people who want fast money.

They give you propositions where you will make plenty of money very easily. But you must put in your money first. Or they impress you they have plenty of money and are going to buy an hacienda. But their money is still in the bank and you are promised a hefty commission. But, you must lend them first.

Oh. So many styles and they can sweet-talk you if you only listen and too naïve to believe them.

There are very many of them. And on knowing Negrenses are easy to swindle, they will swarm over here.

It's not only here in the Philippines. Everywhere in the world, what P.T. Barnum said is true, "There's always a sucker born every minute."*

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