Niña Taduran

Evaluation of cops’ mental health urged

October 16, 2021 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 454 views

HOUSE Assistant Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Niña Taduran on Saturday proposed a nationwide evaluation of the mental and emotional condition of policemen as another case of an apparent criminal act has been allegedly committed by a supposedly protector of the society.

Taduran was referring to the case of a woman motorcycle rider who was allegedly raped by a police sergeant after being flagged down at a checkpoint in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

“May mga mapang-abuso ng kapangyarihan at nakakaisip ng mga karumal-dumal na gawain sa mga taong pinangakuan nilang pagsilbihan at protektahan. Ang checkpoints ay itinatag para maipatupad ang seguridad at maiwasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-19), hindi para gamitin ito ng mga gustong mang-abuso,” Taduran stressed.

She said this was not the first time the “power of the checkpoint” has been abused during the time of the pandemic.

The lady lawmaker recalled the case of a 34-year old retired military man who was suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome and was shot dead by a policeman in a checkpoint at Fairview, Quezon City last year despite the pleas from locals who knew the victim.

“Nasaan ang konsensya ng mga pulis na nakakagawa nito? At bakit nila naiisip ito sa kabila ng kanilang pangakong po-protektahan ang mga mamamayan?” Taduran asked.

Taduran praised Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Guillermo Eleazar’s prompt action by opening an investigation of the alleged rape case at a checkpoint in Pampanga.

“I really hope that the PNP will consider a mental, emotional and even physical evaluation of all policemen in the country to know if they are fit for the job. Hindi lang naman ang mga kaso sa checkpoints ang nagiging problema. Marami pang iba na involved ang mga law enforcers na nagiging law breakers,” Taduran said.

Taduran also called on all those who may have been victimized by the so-called “power-trippers” to come out and file the necessary charges to clean the police force from these lawbreakers.

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