Police harassment of visiting OFW

Almost every week someone or other pops up and describes the 7 million Philippine overseas workers as "heroes" or "saviors." Words are cheap. Here's a story of how the country rewarded one "hero" on her return to the Philippines (from The nut box, via Sparks)

When my mother went to the Philippines to attend the graduation ceremony of my sister and to seek the opinion of Filipino doctors on her mild cancer two weeks ago, she had no idea she was in for the shock of her life. Last April 14, my mother went to visit a friend named Janet who lives in a slum area in Tandang Sora, Quezon City. That friend owes my mother some thousands, which my mother decided to collect because she needs money for her medication. My mother was accompanied by an old friend, Maximo Gabriel. At around twelve noon, just when my mother and Gabriel were about to leave Janet’s place, two plain-clothed policemen- one called Allan and another named Mar Palic- approached them, accusing them of drug possession. My mother and her friends aghastly denied this, and before the two cops could search them they showed their bags to the police officers and emptied their pockets to show that there was nothing incriminating inside. Still, the cops “invited” them for questioning. “Sumama kayo sa amin (Come with us),” said the cops.

Continues here.

Comments

[jane]

This is terrible -- I hope they prosecute these crooked cops.

[J]

Torn, Thank you very much for re-blogging my mom's story. I have e-mailed both PNP and Napolcom and their response was not very helpful. The Commission on Human Rights has formed an investigating team to look into the case. My mom would return to Manila this June to pursue administrative and criminal case against them.

[torn]

J

I really admire you and your mom for pursuing this case.

About 18 months' ago we had our own brush with the forces of, ahem, law and order when our driver was stabbed.

I blogged about it quite extensively and good argumens were made both for taking action to bring the perpetrator to justice and for walking away.

Although in the end we did not pursue the case (that was our driver's decision) one comment from a friend resonated with me:

I think if we let Benzon get away with what he has done, at least without a fight, then we have no right to complain about the kind of society we live in. Justice is never automatic, it must be fought for. Injustice fills the unwatched spaces when we choose to look away.

Here is the original post

http://tornandfrayed.typepad.com/tornandfrayed/2008/10/stabbing-in-taguig.html

And here is the post with my friend's comment:

http://tornandfrayed.typepad.com/tornandfrayed/2008/10/stabbing-in-taguig-23-october-2008-update.html

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That friend owes my mother some thousands, which my mother decided to collect because she needs money for her medication.

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