The photo that uncovered a major crime.
Social media, internet-based networking sites – the most popular of them Facebook and Twitter – has changed the world and our lives.
Social media is a communication tool and like all things in this world, its value depends on how users handle it.
What happened last Sept. 1, when a bypasser who witnessed a crime taking place in the middle of a major highway (EDSA) in broad daylight, captured the scene in his smartphone and posted the picture in Twitter, is an example of the upside of the digital technology and social media.
Police officials and the families of the victims are thanking the original poster.
This is one time that social media should lie low. Let the poster be unknown for his own safety.
The photo which went viral (shared in internet sites multiple times) was the key to uncovering a crime perpetrated by policemen, persons who are supposed to protect the public from criminals.
It turned out that the white Toyota Fortuner that was blocked by several vehicles were carrying two employees of a Lanao del Sur-based construction company carrying P2 million in cash to be used to buy an equipment in Subic in Pampanga.
They were abducted by ten men, at least eight of them active policemen assigned in La Loma station in Quezon City. They were later detained at the La Loma Station for several hours. The P2 million and cash withdrawn from the ATMS of the two employees could not be found as of press time.
The highest-ranking of the rouge group was the number 2 in La Loma station: Chief Inspector Joseph de Vera, deputy commander.
Identified as De Vera’s cohorts are Senior Insp. Oliver Villanueva, SPO1 Ramil Hachero, P02 Weavin masa, P02 Mark de Paz, P02 Jerome Datinguinoo, P02 Ebonn Decatoria all assigned at La Loma station.
Also allegedly involved are P02 Jonathan Rodriguez of the QCPD public safety battalion and former Police Insp Marco Polo Estrera.
Another one Senior Inspector Allan Emlano, of the Caloocan Police station, who has been AWOL (Absent without leave) since January 2013 has also been dragged into the criminal operation.
Eastern Police District Director Abelardo Villacorta said when De Vera was first confronted about the Sept. 1 crime, he tried to “play dumb.”
When pushed further by more information, he tried concocting a false scenario: he said it was drug bust operation.
That story didn’t fly because he couldn’t produce an assignment order and there was no record of coordination with PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.)
It sounds familiar.
Rogue elements are a reality in this imperfect world. But it’s many times condemnable if the crime is perpetrated by the people being paid to protect the citizens.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas echoed the anger and frustrations of the public with “hulidaps” – policemen engaged in robbery hold ups, kidnapping and even murders when he said is “double mortal sin.”
“We gave them a uniform and a badge, authority, a gun and radio and they used it for a crime. If there is a mortal sin, this is double mortal sin,” he said.
Citzens are appalled by the brazenness of the crime. There is an element of impunity to it. Which is not really surprising because at least two of those involved have on record been involved in hulidap operations before. Why they are scot free is an issue that PNP should address.
What the rogue -policemen did not reckon with was the power of social media.