Are they naïve?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

A disturbing report in yesterday’s issue was that about the release of a policeman from detention after he had posted bail of P30,000. The police officer, it was further reported, had been jailed on charges of violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. In other words, Police Officer 1 Brenold Jarina is facing one of the most serious charges covered by our laws, that of possessing illegal drugs with accompanying paraphernalia.

The offense is grievous enough committed by civilians, ordinary citizens, and often young people who have been misled into the use of such destructive substances. Such people are supposed to be the target of surveillance and apprehension by the police, and not only the members of that agency specially assigned to the illegal drug problem.

But Jarina, who was arrested at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, and subsequently disarmed by his Chief of Police in Sagay City, is supposed to be a law enforcer, not a law breaker as he has been accused by his own colleagues. The same reports said that, after posting bail, as apparently set by the Court, Jarina reported back to the Sagay Police Station. He had been detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Silay City since the time of his arrest on March 19.

What is also disturbing is the fact that there are indications that Jarina will soon be assigned to other stations because his chief had reportedly said that his presence in Sagay will be detrimental to the image of the police there!

Only a few days ago, our top provincial officials had protested loudly against the assignment of some “problem boys” of the police in Antique to Negros Occidental. While their officers justified the moves by saying they had not been charged so far, they also admitted that the transferred cops had been involved in acts for which they could, or should be charged.

Does the Police officialdom believe, then, that just moving them around could rid such erring cops of their bad habits and “reform” them already? If they do, then how naïve some of our high-ranking police officials must be!*