Res Gestae
The way out to traffic police corruption
It is so inconsiderate for this writer to suggest that the only way to solve traffic police corruption in Iloilo City, or any city for that matter, is to fire its entire police force. Though it may be the most effective solution to the problem, we can't afford however to deprive the families of our traffic police of their source of livelihood. They need the job to survive. Firing them would starve to death hundreds of families. It is unchristian for us to do that, isn't it? Ergo, we can't consider the idea of scrapping the entire police force as what the Republic of Georgia and Ukraine did.
However, we can't also tolerate the mess these traffic police make in our streets. We have to find a way out to solve this problem. Or else we will be breeding calloused beasts in our streets.
In my previous column, I mentioned seven (7) causes or reasons for the deteriorating (or is it deteriorated) integrity of traffic police. If we analyze those causes, we can only see three (3) major concerns that we have to work with in eradicating traffic police corruption: management, promotion, and education.
MANAGEMENT. I am still of the opinion that traffic fines collection is prima facie evidence of mismanagement. And who would say it is not? The increase in traffic violators is indicative of the defect in the management level of our traffic unit. For years, the traffic unit of this city has failed to come up with doable traffic plans that would not only enhance visibility of traffic police but also to thwart their modus operandi in extorting bribes.
The absence (if there is one, the leniency in the implementation) of policy guidelines on the duration of deployment of traffic police to a particular area indubitably provide our traffic police the leeway to establish corruption strategy. For example, station a traffic police at Plazoletagay for a week and he will find no way to establish rapport with drivers. Assign him there for a month and he will make friends with or befriended by drivers, and he becomes more considerate in the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations. What are "kumpares" for? Thus, if he stays there for a couple of months, what would we expect? Of course, his driver-friend will occasionally compliment him with ten pesos to buy cigarettes. Until, it becomes a system eroding the integrity of this traffic police. How could he then become effective in his job?
PROMOTION. Once a person lands a job, his aspiration does not stop there. No one can honestly say, "Having this job is enough". When a person earns a job, his next consideration is, "Would this job make me the best person I can or want to be?" Many persons get disillusioned weeks or months after having landed on a job. And, this is natural in a country that has a chronic unemployment problem with nearly 3 million jobless Filipinos and millions others complaining of being underemployed. One can only think what the job can do to his person after (not before) having it.
The problem on traffic police corruption can also be viewed as the offshoot of great disillusionment. Our traffic police are overworked! And, underpaid! They only receive P4,500.00 for a whole month of braving the scorching heat of midday sun and the colds during rainy days. Either you perform well or not, you still get the same pay. So, why do the job well when others don't?
Negative work attitudes engulf our traffic police because many in their ranks are disillusioned. So, what else one can do when "everybody is engaged in corruption practices and salaries are low and terms of service are poor"?
EDUCATION. This writer pointed out that many traffic police engage in "monkey business" because many drivers are ignorant of various fines on traffic offenses, thus, they can be easily intimated by traffic police officers into giving bribes. This is not peculiar. Many of our drivers knew most of traffic rules only by experience. Drivers or road users only knew the fundamentals of running their cars but not of traffic rules and the consequences for violation thereof.
The traffic police officers have oftentimes taken advantage of drivers or road users' ignorance. The former may issue ticket for violation with higher charge and later make under-the-table negotiation with the drivers for lower charge (bribe).
In such case, the only way to solve corruption is to conduct a widespread information dissemination among our road users. Does Land Transportation Office (LTO) still administer pre-licensing examination for would-be drivers?
(Send your comments and suggestions to rogatepnp@yahoo.com or text 09193161190.)