Director-General Alan Purisima, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has every reason to complain about how suspected criminals are now treated as heroes by the media.
I’m a dyed-in-the wool journalist and former police reporter but I nearly puked when I saw a TV network feature an interview with a relative of Ozamiz gang leader Ricky Cadavero last Saturday.
The TV camera took shots of Cadavero’s coffin while the relative was being interviewed, complete with a crying scene.
Cadavero and his right-hand man, Wilfredo Panogalinga, were killed while in the custody of the police.
By the looks of it, the TV channel that showed the interview with the relative was trying to elicit public sympathy for the suspect.
“Anak ng baka,” as the late columnist Louie Beltran was wont to say when he was disgusted, why do we glorify dead criminals?
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Now, the brazen killing by policemen of the two criminals without regard for public opinion is another story.
They didn’t even make an effort to cover their tracks.
Those cops who are suspected of having “salvaged” (police lingo for summary execution) Cadavero and Panogalinga and their immediate superiors who gave the order could have something to hide.
Cadavero and Panogalinga obviously knew too much about the superiors of those cops and had to be silenced.
But to the credit of the PNP hierarchy, the cops who figured in the incident, including a police general, have been relieved and are now being investigated.
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Hilda (not her real name) came to me at “Isumbong Mo kay Tulfo” Monday to complain she was raped by the personal assistant of Nigerian Ambassador Akinyemi Fahrounde.
Hilda, who works as a kasambahay (househelp) of the ambassador, alleged that she was raped inside the house of Farounbi at Forbes Park in Makati City.
She also identified her alleged attacker.
When Hilda complained to the ambassador’s wife, Evelyn Fahrounde, the latter allegedly slapped her.
Calling the attention of the party-list Gabriela, defender of oppressed women!
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Newly elected Mayor Cipriano Violago of San Rafael, Bulacan province, can’t perform his functions because he’s in hiding.
He has a warrant of arrest for murder, a nonbailable offense.
Unless the Court of Appeals extends the temporary restraining order for his arrest, which expired in July 8, Violago will be arrested by the police on sight.
But it seems the police are not looking for him.
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What has happened to the 50-year-old mural of National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco that covered the wall and ceiling of Bulwagang Antonio Villegas at Manila City Hall?
That mural, which wowed visitors, is missing.
The Department of Tourism donated P20 million for the restoration work on the mural during the time of Mayor Fred Lim.
What happened to the amount and, of course, the missing mural?