This is a story of my friend. She is so traumatized by her encounter with a bully from the Presidential Security Group that she asked me not to mention her name. For this article, I’ll call her “Gabby”.
Gabby works in an advertising agency in Makati. Last Jan. 23, a Saturday, she was driving home from Tagaytay about 8 p.m. Gabby was extra careful with her driving because there were a number of road repair work going on at the South Luzon Expressway.
She had passed the Sta. Rosa exit when she noticed from her rear view mirror a convoy led by motorcycle-riding escorts. She was still figuring out where she would place herself (since it was a danger zone with constructions signs all over the place) when she was suddenly bumped by the convoy’s motorcycle-riding escort. She took the side lane to give way to the convoy. At that time she didn’t know who was the all-important person it was protecting.
Not contented with what he did, the motorcycle- riding escort got back to her, not to find out whether she was hurt but to hit her again.
Gabby said that was when she got scared. The man saw that she was alone yet he bumped her car again. “He was so arrogant.Parang tumatadyak ng aso”
A short distance from where that incident happened was a Caltex station. A terribly shaken Gabby saw a policeman and reported the incident. The policeman said,” Wala kaming magagawa kasi convoy yun ni Presidente.” The man added that they were there precisely to watch out for the presidential convoy.
It was another shock to Gabby. When she asked the policeman that isn’t it their job to protect the people from harm, he replied, “Bahala kayo kung gusto nyo mag file ng complaint.” He said, they would have to go to the police station in Pacita.
Gabby said she heard the policeman utter something like, “Istorbo lang yan.” She decided against going to the police station..
Gabby said more than the damage to her car, what traumatized her was the arrogance of the PSG guy. She said it’s her understanding that the government is there to protect the citizens. In protecting their principal, which is Gloria Arroyo, they don’t have to endanger other people’s lives.
I contacted Gen. Celedonio Boquiren, Jr., PSG head. He is “on a mission” and he promised to look into the matter when he comes back. Understandably, he said he is not aware of the incident.
Gen. Boquiren immediately inquired about the facts of the incident. He said he understands the feeling of my friend. “Rest assured,” he said. “that we do our job to protect the people.”
Having covered Malacañang, I understand the job of the PSG. I imagine that the job is doubly difficult when you are protecting a most disliked president. But there is no excuse for bullying.
Enshrined in the Constitution is the declaration that “The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people.” There is something terribly wrong when it’s the government that endangers the life of ordinary citizens.
I don’t have any unpleasant experience with the PSG during the time of President Ramos, who value the role of media in governance.
But a lot of things have changed in Malacañang coverage. Jove Francisco, Malacañang reporter for ABC-5, has several stories to tell about abusive treatment by the PSG, who can’t seem to understand the role of media. He said the worst was during the time of Gen. Romeo Prestoza, who is now chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, “ when they were trying to sweep us away while the President was traveling from Pampanga to Manila.”
Jove said that was at the height of the NBN/ZTE controversy and they didn’t want media to follow the Gloria Arroyo. “Kailan pa bawal mag cover ang media sa bansang ito? ,” Jove asked.
The ABC-5 team stuck to the presidential convoy until they reached Wack-Wack Golf Club. Jove relates, “At doon kami inaway away ng hagad. Nakarolyo camera namin, inilabas ko nga. Ang yayabang at di marunong gumalang sa role ng media to cover.”
These incidents happen because you have a president who propagate a culture of impunity. After all, the presidential escorts merely take their cue from their master.
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