Res Gestae
Mamang Pulis: Reality or Fantasy?
The Integrated Transformation Program of the Philippine National Police can be summarized in two words: Mamang Pulis.
According to PNP Chief, Police Director General Avelino I. Razon Jr, Mamang Pulis has five essential characters – God-fearing, humane, approachable, presentable and dependable. Those were qualities of policemen in the olden days where "the sight of the man in uniform evoked respect and a feeling of safety and security among the citizenry". Thus, the ITP puts emphasis on the deployment of 90% of the more than 100 thousands policemen in the streets to reduce crimes. Other police units have even gone beyond with 95% of their personnel performing field duty and only 5% is doing administrative functions.
At my age now, I can't recall that "olden days" where, according to Razon, the Mamang Pulis existed in the community. The only thing I can remember was the time when police officers, in the then brown uniform, frequented our home during fiesta or "binayle". And, they were not the Mamang Pulis whom Razon is referring to. They were arrogant, rude, with big belly, unshaved mustache, and show-off with their issued firearms. We feared them because they could be impatient and cruel, as many people in our place said so.
With my childhood experience, I have never seen Razon's Mamang Pulis. But, I am sure I had then a very bad impression of the police force. For that reason, I can hardly create a picture of the olden days Mamang Pulis. This, I even argued that how could Razon bring back that "old glory" when nothing of that kind at all in past? Was he talking of a fantasy hero or heroine?
But, maybe, I am just too young than Razon to insist on my experience. Having been in the uniformed services for decades, Razon must have seen in the past the Mamang Pulis that he is telling us. I accord him with that benefit of the doubt.
Regardless, however, of whether Mamang Pulis did exist in the past or not, I am convinced that there are lots of Mamang Pulis at the present. In fact, I can observe the diminishing numbers of the olden days policemen as I described them. The "mortality" is maybe the outcome of Razon's pronouncement that "absolutely no place for abusive behavior in the police service, and while there may be a few left of these undesirables, we shall not cease to find, identify and punish or remove them from the service."
Razon wants Mamang Pulis to be loved by the citizenry and not loathed by them. Thus, he strongly campaigns that "law enforcers cannot be lawbreakers themselves; they are protectors, not oppressors of the people."
As I witness the dramatic decrease in crime rates, at least here in our region, and the overwhelming increase in PNP's crime solution efficiency, I cannot help but affirm that Mamang Pulis is, indeed, a real being.
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