Traffic cops should be strict

Our Philippine National Police has yet to improve its security system. When the community police assistance center of its 1st provincial mobile group in Escalante City barangay was easily raided by the New People's Army who carted away eight high-powered firearms, then something is wrong with the way our mobile group is being run.

A policeman and eight civilian volunteers manned the center, but the NPAs just marched in and ordered them to lie on the floor without their putting up even a semblance of resistance.

Do we need civilians to do a police job?

If not corrected we might lose all our firearms to insurgents.

***

The city has some Manila policemen manning our traffic. Can we not ask them to stay here for good? Our traffic cops are not performing their job. And our traffic enforcers cannot discipline even the "barkers."

I noted these Tagalog-speaking traffic cops are courteous and know their job. That's what we want, traffic cops who know their job.

Sunday at around 11 a.m. I was at the front seat of the car driven by my son-in-law Jonathan Avelino. At the intersection of Libertad and Araneta Jonathan proceeded even before the green light, beating it by a second because there was no vehicle turning left from the opposite direction.

A traffic cop stopped us. He courteously asked where we came from. Jonathan told him he fetched his father-in-law and we were going to pick up our national papers down town.

I was wearing a coat having just landed at the airport and he asked where I worked. I told him where I work is not important. What is important is if he violated the rule, punish him.

***

He courteously returned the driver's license and warned next time to wait for the green light. I noted he was firm.

I always favor and am supportive of strict but courteous traffic cops. Discourteous and abusive traffic cops always get my goat. And more on those who do not know the traffic rules.

Traffic enforcers must be trained and trained well. Most important is their manners. I prefer a serious traffic cop and not wave his hand to any motorists as though they are politicians.

This way he will look authoritative and will be worthy of respect. And I believe in giving them the power, too, to effect an arrest of erring motorists.

***

But, I insist, they must know their traffic rules.

I recall some years ago in Valladolid, it used to have very strict cops. I was apprehended for overtaking. The policeman was so arrogant in telling me I violated traffic rules.

What did I violate? I asked. He said I overtook another vehicle.

I said, I did not violate a traffic rule. The lines are broken, I said, and I can overtake. If the line is solid, then I am not allowed to overtake.

He said but there was a municipal ordinance not allowing overtaking. I said he should ask the municipal council to first amend the Motors Vehicle Law because a municipal council resolution cannot supersede a law.

I gave him my driver's license with the request to put a note "Under protest." He returned it and told me not to do it again.

That raised my hackle and said I would do it again and again until the law is amended. He saluted and said, "Thank you, Sir."

I believe he thanked me for educating him.

***

Another instance was in the same Valladolid. On entering the town I was driving quite fast. I saw one cop talking in his radio.

I expected to be apprehended a little later. So, I drove slowly.

True, a little farther another cop was there who stopped me. He said, he wanted to see my driver's license because I was driving fast. "Fast?" I asked. "You saw it I was driving very slowly," I said. "But on entering the town you were driving fast," he said. But you were not there, I reasoned out. Another cop saw you, he said. But that was his report, not yours. He should have apprehended me, I said.

"OK, you win," he said. He added, "But if I see you driving fast next time, I will apprehend you," he warned.

"By all means," I said. But, after that I was very careful already.

***

I want our traffic cops respected so that they can be effective.

But to be respected they have to be first of all, courteous. And they must know the laws on traffic.

I do not like traffic cops who are afraid to argue with motorists. They are afraid to argue, because they do not know their law. But, if they are well trained, it will give them the self-confidence.

I hope Bacolod Police Director Pete Merced will retain those Tagalog-speaking traffic cops. And our motorists must be told not to corrupt them.

They can only be corrupted if they have somebody here, a front man to collect tong from those whose drivers licenses were taken.*

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