February 27, 2019
I went to the office of the chief of police near our place. I dropped off close to a thousand pieces of bath soaps for distribution to the policemen and to the inmates. And the kicker was the organic langka fresh from our tree. The fruit was for the policemen. Hati-hati sila walang away.
When I arrived at the lobby of the police headquarters, there were at least a dozen people, men and women, being lectured by the policemen. Then when I was leaving, those same group of people was being loaded in a police vehicle. I asked the police what was going on and where they were bringing the people. Yun pala those were caught playing tong-its. They were habitual gamblers. They’ve been warned several times and yet they didn’t stop. Pasaway daw. Wala naman daw patay na nakaburol, pero mga naglalagay ng lamesa sa gilid ng kalsada.
Bawal daw sugal kaya hayun hinuli na sila.
I asked what would happen to those people. They could post bail. How much? Kasi naawa naman ako. I was short of pleading on their behalf.
Dati daw, the pyansa was only 1,000 but it was increased to 60,000 pesos.
My God, where would those poor people get 60,000 pesos. Sa isang mahirap na tao, kayamanan na yan. Maraming mamamatay na dilat ang mga mata na hindi pa nakakakita ng sisenta mil. If they could not pay the 60,000 fine eh di magbe-birthday na sila sa kulungan. Ohhh naawa ako. I told the policemen, “Officer, pwede bang sermonan nyo na lang, ikulong ng isang gabi tapos pakawalan nyo na bukas? Kasi pampasikip lang yan sa kulungan, at dagdag pa sa pakakainin ng munisipyo.”
“Mam, hindi ho pwede, kasi babalik uli yan sa pagsusugal. Matitigas ang ulo. Sila pa ang galit pagsinasaway.”
Let them learn their lesson