Bus Thieves and the PNP, Part 2

Here is a continuation of my tweet exchanges with some PNP offices after I lost my wallet to bus theft/thieves four days ago. I noted in Part 1 that "I think the PNP national and regional offices are trying to be responsive to citizens' online reports and complaints." 

I am happy that the three PNP offices were responding to my concern.

I did not go back to Makati Central Police Station anymore. I think there is no need for a blotter report as these tweet exchanges are sufficient, they involve three PNP offices -- PNP national hotline, NCRPO and Makati Police. And as I stated and tweeted above, I was not asking for an investigation because the facts are hazy: I don't even know how many (1, 2 or more?) bus theft/thieves that night, I don't even know their faces, height or built, I don't know where they got off after, I don't even remember the Manila busline that I took, etc.

I only complained why the PNP Makati would refuse taking a report from a Makati resident simply because I discovered or noticed the crime done unto me when I was already in Cubao area. For me, katamaran  lang yon eh. After the PNP National and regional offices have intervened, PNP Makati softened and asked me to come back and make the blotter report. Thanks for the invite Sirs, I appreciate it nonetheless.

And thanks once again to  PNP hotline, PNP NCRPO, PNP Makati, for responding to such citizen complaint.

On another note, I  think the PNP, national and regional offices, should improve their intelligence gathering of bus robbery and even bus hold ups. I am sure there are many other victims who did not bother to report to the PNP via police stations/precincts, or via social media like twitter.

They should be more pro-active, get more info about those criminals. Like I heard from some friends who were also victims of bus robbery in the past, that for north-bound buses, the criminals usually do the hold ups between Ayala Ave, or Magallanes to Estrella in Makati, get off at Estrella. Why there? Because there are no policemen or MMDA officers in Estrella bus unloading areas.

To get public respect and support, the PNP should make our streets, buildings, buses, jeepneys, etc. more safe from criminals. The frequent complaint that I hear or read, and which I also agree with, is that the PNP is busy apprehending non-criminals like motorcycle drivers on slippers or not wearing helmets. And the real criminals are more free doing their public harassment and robbery. I sincerely hope that the PNP can turn their attention and guns on the real criminals. That is what they are hired and paid for from our taxes.
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See also: 
Car plates and power trip, Part 2, July 06, 2011

Rule of Law 20: PNP and Rule of Men, April 21, 2013 

Rule of Law 24: Policemen as Violators of Traffic Rules, September 15, 2014 

Bus Thieves and the PNP, May 21, 2014

Bus Thieves and the PNP

Yesterday morning, I left the office in Makati around 2:20-2:30am. I was going to our farm in Bugallon, Pangasinan. I took an an aircon bus going to QC around 2:30 am, I briefly slept. When I woke up somewhere in Cubao Farmers Plaza, I was shocked to see that my wallet is gone, my pant's right front pocket was slashed. First time in my life that I was victimized by bus thieves.

I posted this in facebook, courtesy of bus wifi. I was supposed to cancel my trip as I have no more money to pay for the bus fare to Pangasinan. But I called up the farm caretaker and asked if he has money, he said yes, so I I talked to d bus conductor, 5 Star bus, that my payment will be upon arrival. He saw my slashed pant, he agreed. 

My cp was in my left front pocket, it was not slashed. I think I slept for only 10 mins. The theft/thieves was/were quick I didn't feel it. I was tired n sleepy coming from  the office. Just small cash in my wallet but I must get a new drivers license, bank ATM, HMO and SSS cards. Asar lng.

I went back home in Makati around 10:45pm. Then I went to Makati Central Police Station around 11:30pm. Purpose is to have a police blotter of the loss of my wallet and driver's license. I was told by the attending officer, SPO3 Gutierrez at the Investigation Division I think, that I should report for blotter at QC Police because I discovered the loss when the bus was already in Cubao area, QC. I explained that I was not asking for an investigation, just to have a blotter report that my driver's license was stolen and might be used for other bad activities by the criminals. The officer insisted that they should not record it.

Sabi ko, I'd rather tweet this to the PNP. "Ano'ng tweet?" he asked, I explained that the PNP has a twitter account. I'd rather report there than travel again to QC especially that it's midnight now. PNP bureaucratism minsan, tamad lang sila mag record, tapos sabihin "we serve and protect."

A friend, Norman, made this observation.

Happy you were not harmed, my friend. Di ko ma-gets yung refusal nung police sa Makati na i-blotter yung kaso mo. Pwede rin naman ilagay niya na rin sa blotter nila even as he suggested na i-report mo din sa QC. Wala naman mawawala. Simple lang naman ang pag-blotter. He would at least have "served" you. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko nga alam ano ang kinahihinatnan ng mga blotter-blotter na yan. To me, it's just a pakitang-tao na serbisyo actually. Ganun pa man, di pa rin magampanan ng maayos ng iba sa kanila. There's really something wrong with the mindset of our police force. 

Here's my tweet to  the PNP last night.

This morning I am happy to see that the PNP replied to my tweet-report, better and more transparent than blotter report in a city police station.

I think the PNP national and regional offices are trying to be responsive to citizens online reports and complaints. 

I will make a follow up blog post later. 

To my friends who liked, commented in fb, thank you all. Yes, am happy that I was not harmed. If I woke up while he/they were slashing my pant and if I reacted adversely, he/they might have stabbed me, and that's a bigger problem.