Res Gestae
Predators in the streets
"Buwaya sa kalsada!" To those who are not familiar with the language, the statement literally means "crocodile on the street". The allusion refers to traffic police who victimize drivers-violators. So, as the title suggests, predators are indubitably identified with the corrupt traffic police while the drivers-violators are their prey. Unlike the crocodile, however, the victims of the traffic police are in most cases not unwilling. In fact, they are most of the time conspirators in the worsening corruption in the streets. Don't you wonder why we rarely or never at all hear complaints of irregularities involving our traffic police? Many of our drivers, who were apprehended for violating traffic rules, prefer to offer bribe money than queuing for almost half day at the LTO to re-claim their licenses and pay their fines. Besides, bribe money is in most cases lesser than traffic fines. Thus, should there be no reports of this kind of corruption it does not mean the practice never exists. Rather, the bribery and mulcting as forms of corruption have become alternatives which most drivers-violators find very convenient.
If ever you have read my column last week, one would think that corruption in the streets is apparently non-existing in Iloilo City considering the reported million in traffic fines collection for the first quarter of this year. Should corruption exist, this city would not have made that record in traffic fines collection. But, the big question is, does the P1.2 million traffic fines collection enough for us to believe that corruption among our traffic police does not exist? I am afraid to say that the report is not as convincing as it appears! The P1.2 million traffic fines collection is too big as it seems. But, what if the figure we are looking at is but a little fraction of what could have been actually collected?
When I first read the report of the Traffic Management and Engineering Unit (TMEU), I immediately said the figure was an understatement. I do not intend to mean that TMEU understated in its report the actual amount of collection for the first quarter. I only mean that the collection could have been bigger if conspiracy between the traffic police and drivers-violators has been abated. Do I have proofs in alleging that, indeed, bribery and mulcting exist in our streets? As I said, we never hear reports on this as of the moment, we only hope that sooner somebody comes out of the open to testify against the predators. But, let us consider these incidents: One afternoon I was on board a PUJ traversing along Bonifacio Drive in front of the Provincial Capitol. The driver halted the jeepney in front of a traffic police and handed him a folded P20 peso bill saying that the amount is a partial payment for a pair of pants he availed on installment basis from the latter's wife. There was an expression of surprise in the face of the traffic police (maybe because had it not for the driver, he would not have discovered his wife's business engagement) but nonetheless he accepted the money.
Another incident, which I witnessed not just once but many times, happened along JM Basa Street, particularly at the kiosk in front of a bank fronting DTI Building. A "buwaya" looking traffic police makes the said kiosk as "tool fee" station. Drivers halt their cars and casually buy a stick of cigarette for P10.00?!? Yes, it is overwhelmingly expensive. While in other retail store you can have it for P1.25, in that kiosk it will cost you P10.00. But, mind you, the dialogue I have had with some drivers revealed that the kiosk owner serves merely as a dummy of that traffic police. The lion's share of the P10.00 goes to him while only the actual cost of the cigar, which is P1.50, goes to the vendor. He stays there every afternoon to "devour" the proceeds.
These are but only two incidents that transpired ordinarily between the drivers and traffic police. I can't, however, help but think of a crime that most people are so indifferent about! This is what I think. What is yours?
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