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 around 8 p.m. Gabby was extra careful with her driving because there were a number of road repair works on the South Luzon Expressway.
She had passed the Sta. Rosa exit when she noticed from her rear view mirror a convoy led by motorcycle 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 escort. She took the service lane to give way to the convoy. At that time she didn’t know who was the all-important person it was protecting.
Not content with what he did, the motorcycle 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 told the policeman that 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, who is Gloria Arroyo, they don’t have to endanger other people’s lives.
I contacted Gen. Celedonio Boquiren, Jr., PSG head. He was “on a mission” and he promised to look into the matter when he came 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 very 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 lives of ordinary citizens.
I didn’t have any unpleasant experience with the PSG during the time of President Ramos, who values 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 tried 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 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 and Country Club. Jove related: “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 when you have a president who propagates a culture of impunity. After all, the escorts merely take their cue from their master.
I could only sympathize with your friend. Fortunately, she was not shot by that arrogant PSG. PSG’s main task is to protect the fake President. PSG can always claim your friend was a security risk. Today, PSG is called Pidal Security Gang.
The above story reminds me of the Marcos regime when PSG was above all agencies. Under the office of Col. Balbino Diego, wealthy persons could easily get a PSG Mission Order, Badge and Sticker as “Confidential Agent”. These civilians were the kings of the road then. Police, soldiers and other law enforcers were afraid to touch these influential civilians.
They carried firearms and their cars were equipped with siren and blinker.
“Protect THE people.” Who’s people? They have their own definition. It’s “their” people. That’s why what we have is one that’s “OFF the people, BUY the people, FOOL the people”.
These Jose Pidal Mafia people are king of the road. Don’t dare to block their way or else you are in trouble. They are above the law. Baka kasuhan ka ng obstruction of justice. hehheh.
Government law agencies protect the people (in the Philippines)? Their rights? Gotta be kidding.
The rights of Filipinos abroad, even the illegal ones, particularly in the West, probably are better protected by foreign governments than they are in the Philippines.
Filipinos in the west, whether illegal or not, enjoy the full protection of the law and can bank on foreign government hosts protecting them from being abused by any tom dick and harry, high level or not.
Granted, this sort of thing may also happen in the West but the difference is the Filipino who believes that his/her rights has been abused can file charges against the so-called law enforcer without the need for an Ellen Tordesillas-like personality to raise it publicly to be heard, without the fear of retaliation or abuse by that “felon” of a law enforcer!
The incident above is nothing new. There are past incidents where motorist are being rough up by these arrogant escorts of politicians. There are a lot of these scum-bags roaming the streets, much like their principals who are as arrogant as they are. Sigh****
I agree. If ordinary bodyguards of politicians can abuse, what more the PSG goons? Remember the Valley Golf mauling incident? What happens now to the case? Settled?
Korek Mike…walang nabago sa pag-uugali ng mga abusadong pulis-patola, akala mo sa kanila ang Pinas kapag pinagseserbisyuhan ang mga peste sa ating lipunan.
Paano mangyayari ang gusto nilang respeto sa kanilang hanay kung mismo sila ang promotor sa kayabangan. Wala silang aasahang paggalang sa mamamayan, mga abusado!
This reminds me of Gov. Andal Ampatuan’s convoy of black 4×4 SUV’s. The Malaya news published this,
BY JAILEEN F. JIMENO
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
MAGUINDANAO – The sound of sirens precedes the passing of a long convoy of 4×4 sport utility vehicles. As if on cue, jeepneys and private vehicles begin moving to the right side of the street, where they all then ground to halt.
“Kailangan tumabi ka, kasi babanggain ka nila. Palalabasin nilang kaaway ka,” explains an old man watching the scene by the roadside.
Asked if he knows whose convoy of black, heavily tinted vehicles is whizzing by, the man replies without hesitation: “Si Governor. Ganyan ang mga sasakyan niya.”
Sobrang dungis na pala ang PSG ngayon. Dapat lang na itawag sa kanila ay Putong Sundalo ni Gloria. Hindi naman lahat sila. Yun lang mga nagpupuputo at yung mga Panay Sipsip kay Gloria.
Mali yata ang spelling ko ng Putong at nagpupuputo. Paki korek na lang.
Wala lang panahon makakutong yong motorcyce escort kaya brazohin na lamang kung sino mang abala sa harapan.
Noong panahon ni Marcos ang mga escorts nya o bodyguard ay mga ilocano. Siguradong itong si pandak na pekpek president ang mga escort nyan ay mga mikini o mga dong….lol
The same has happened to me before. Roxas Blvd. was undergoing widening and that made it difficult to pullover at once and let an incoming convoy pass. I was afraid I might hit those low concrete barriers but I already slowed down and was looking for the right spot when the motorcycle escort kicked in the left front fender. My immediate reaction was to cut him and slam him against the center island. I did so, but immediately steered back after I realized it was a cop though it made him swerve dangerously wild while I rolled down and shouted “May kabig ang preno ko, pasensya na!” while I made a complete stop. The cop stopped the bike, alighted and with nostrils smoking and pistol in hand, approached the car and shouted “Baba!” I got off the car to make myself visible to passing vehicles in case the raging idiot pulls the trigger. He had me put my hands on top of the car’s roof and spread my feet apart, he then started to frisk me. Parang nakahuli ng kriminal!
Xman,
I was going to say the same thing. Mayayabang din ang mga Ilocano pero mas masahol ang mga keningburimo. Lalo na ngayong presidente nila dugong aso din.
Tongue,
Kawawa ka naman. The same old practice, mas masahol pa siguro ngayon dahil abusada na kirminal pa ang namumuno. Pero bilib pa rin ako sa iyo, for your love of country kahit na bulok na bulok na dahil binaboy na ng husto ng isang dugong aso. Nakakaiyak!
Ingat lang palagi, friend. Demonyo na ang mga namumuno diyan! Makes me appreciate really the efficiency, honesty and dedication of majority of our policemen here in Japan, lalo na iyong mga pulis sa Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Walang binatbat iyong mga unggoy sa police force ng Pilipinas na pinuno na ng mga bulok na graduate ng PMA. Yuck!!!
02 February 2008
I used to worked with these PSG before (long time ago), I hear a lot of complaints against the arrogance of the motorcycle escorts. First off, only a few motorcycle escorts are detailed with PSG, but perhaps those escorting the convoy of the evil bitch is really detailed there.
Anyhow, it’s not that everything are the faults of these escorts a lot of motorist are really INSERTING their vehicles with the convoy. Perhaps we should teach our motorists to give at least a distance from the convoy itself.
What that escort did was really STUPID, as I said, when I used to work with the PSG, we always remind them to respect the other motorist, sinasabi nila makukulit daw. I agree, but I told them there are ways to tell them to give way. what I, rather we in my team before is to send at least 2 motor cycle ahead to alert the motorist that a convoy is heading that way and at least to give way to avoid this kind of inceident.
I pity your friend as she said she did the right thing of stopping at the service road to give to the passing convoy, what that stupid escort did was truly an arrogance of authority that should be investigated.
Please advise her to file a complaint. police escorts are not given power to abuse, much more to bully motorists that way.
Both the escorts and the motorists should be taught a lesson on road courtesy.
Prans
Anna:
You said it. I remember a documentary we did on the police goons in the Philippines. Golly, one of their money making activities is to escort fugitives from the law from Japan.
There was one time when a desperate Japanese made friends with the crooks in the Manila Police, and asked the police there to provide him with a cadaver, and declare it as his to declare him legally dead so he could claim some insurance money. Pero magaling ang pulis namin, nabisto ang modus operandi. Hindi nahiya iyong mga involved na policemen sa Pilipinas. Nangatwiran pa. Kasalanan daw lahat noong hapon.
I actually made a story of it, and I named it, “Bangkay for sale” for some Philippine tabloid in Japan. Iyan ang tarantado.
Kawawang bansa! Hind na umasenso!
Dennis Garcia made this comment in my Facebook wall where I posted the same article:
Gene Orejana, former ANC anchor who is now based in New Zealand,made this comment in my Facebook wall where I posted the same article:
Is he the same Dennis Garcia of the “Hotdogs” fame? Their “Manila” has become a classic.
Prans:
Tama iyong kaibigan ni Ellen. Tumahimik na lang siya. Wala rin mangyayari. Baka balikan lang siya.
Remember iyong nangyari sa kapatid ni JLo na tinatad ng baril dahil carnapper daw?
Baka madilig din siya ng bala kung magrereklamo siya. Maski nga iyong pulis doon sa probinsiya, mukhang takot kaya ganoon ang sinabi sa kaibigan ni Ellen.
Sana dumami ang magkaroon ng ganoong experience gaya ng kinuwento noong kaibigan ni Ellen. Baka magkaroon na talaga ng lakas ng loob ang mga pilipino na pumiyak ng malakas at sipain na iyong may bangaw sa mukha.
Ngayon na, puede ba? Baka makalusot pa ang mga walanghiya!
Magreklamo iyong kaibigan ni Ellen kung may mas malakas siyang padrino kesa doon sa kriminal sa palasyo. Otherwise, tumahimik na lang siya, magmukmok, etc. kung ayaw niyang sumama sa mga rally ng Bayan, B&W, etc.
Yes, Patton, he is the Dennis Garcia of the “Hotdogs”. He is now into advertising.
Nasa NZ na pala si Gene Orejana. Gigil na gigil yan kay Erap noon. Pag-upo ni Pandack nataranta si Gene, maaga niyang natunugang mas masahol pala itong ipinalit. Banat siya uli kay Gloria. Kaya medyo nasira kredibilidad niya dahil panay ang tumbling niya. I don’t miss his program at all.
BTW, I’m here in my mom’s at San Pedro, nagkakagulo ang mga pulis kanina pagpunta ko sa grocery. Inambush daw si Esquivel ng MMDA. Who he?
Esquivel pala is the guy at MMDA who’s in charge of sidewalk and road clearing. I got this story from GMA7’s website:
Complete story here : http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146913/MMDA-officials-driver-killed-son-hurt-in-Laguna-ambush
So, si Esquivel pala ang nagtayo ng mansion dito sa San Pedro (in high-end Villa Olympia), which Cong. Golez earlier exposed was bought by Bayani Fernando. Bayani of course denied it.
The arrogance of power!!!
Don’t worry ,Gloria and her palace gang will be consigned to the dustbin of history soon.
Pride comes before the fall!
Hindi lang mga escort ni GMA ang mga abusado. Alam na natin iyan. Halos lahat ng supposedly alagad ng batas ay nagtri-trip. Lumalabas na power of the policeman ang gawa imbis na the power to police.
Malapit na oras ni GMA at ng mag-anak niyang sinungaling at magnanakaw.
P***NG INA KA, GLORIA ARROYO!
NAPAKA HAMBOG MO. MAY ARAW KA RIN!
Ipagpaumanhin mo, Ellen. Like Mar Roxas, I lose all eloquence when confronted with such arrogance.
I want to throw up.
The incoming new bodyguards for the new president will always subscribe to the saying “hindi mo ba kami kilala bullcrap”. Those who are powerless can only hope otherwise.
There are still good people out there who can lead and put to use the weekly church visit and intense praying.
Off topic: Hamas once again launched their rockets into Southern Israel for no apparent reasonwounding two soldiers and one civilian. These three people might have children to feed, they also have parents, brother and sister who care for them. Israel is contemplating on restarting it’s assault on Gaza.
anak ng pusang duling, oo!
kanila na ba ang lansangan? ang buong pilipinas?
tarantadong sekyu ‘yun ah? sino ba nagpapasuweldo sa kanya’t kung umasta siya’t manira ng gamit ng kapwa ay parang wala na siyang kamatayan?
kung sino man ‘yung pisot na ‘yun, siguradong isang duwag na matapang lamang sa walang laban pero subuking iharap sa merong armas na hindi siya uurungan, umiihe sa salawal at umaatungal na parang bakang kinakapon sa takot.
baka akala niya eh hindi na matatapos ang makukurakot na araw ng kanilang dinidiyos na pamilyang ganid? at baka sa isip niya ay habang buhay siyang nasa serbisyo? o kaya’y hindi na tatanda?
bandang huli, mamamalimos din siya ng awa!
grasshopper day, we will giant him!
“…….and spread my feet apart, he then started to frisk me. Parang nakahuli ng kriminal!”
tongue, hinde!
bakla ‘yung lespu at kinakapa kung meron kang tinatagong isang piyeng batuta sa loob ng ‘yong pantalon.
he he heeeh!
grizzy, paki linaw nga yung sinabi mong – Mayayabang din ang mga Ilocano pero mas masahol ang mga keningburimo.
Halos lahat ng kakilala ko ay mapagkumbaba naman sila.
MPR, pinabayaan na lang si tt nung bading na lespu dahil wala siyang makapkap na tt. Dismayado si bading, sabi niya -“hmmp, itsura lang. Wala ka palang tt.”
Eh kung mayroon siyang inatagong deadly weapon na isang piyeng batuta ay hindi na siya pinakawalan. Hmmmmmp!!!
Legend: tt – twisted tongue
ang pagiging arogante at kayabangan gayundin ang kawalang pakundangan nitong si esquivel ang dahilan kung bakit pinagtangkaan ang kanyang buhay na ipinagkamaling siya ang sakay ng inambus na sasakyang ikinasawi ng drayber at muntik nang ipagbuwis ng buhay ng kanyang anak.
kung hindi siya magbabago ng pamamalakad sa pagkawawa sa mga pobreng ang tanging kasalanan ay walang tumpak na lugar ng paghahanapbuhayan gayundin ang mga matagal na sa kinatitirikan ang tirahan subalit naging iskwater nang si guwapong fernando na ang namuno sa MMDA.
Back to my story:
After frisking me, he asked for my license and registration. He took out all the neatly folded papers from the envelope took one look and commanded, “Kamay!” Showing me a palm facing up which I copied. He slapped all the papers in my hand, pressed hard downwards, I pushed back up, and he released. Of course, that sent all my papers flying and I found myself chasing those along Roxas blvd. while speeding cars whizzed closely by. Never in my life have I felt so insulted and shamed in public.
naputol, eto ang kasunod:
“…… si guwapong fernando na ang namuno sa MMDA ay malamang mas marami pang pagtatangka sa kanyang buhay ang magaganap hanggang sa magtagumpay ang mga merong dahilan upang siya ay mawala nang tuluyan.
kailanman, ang pag-abuso sa tungkulin at hindi magandang pagtrato sa mga dukhang naghahangad lamang na kumain ng tatlong beses maghapon ay hindi magbubunga ng magada bagkus ay aani ng galit at pagkamuhi mula sa mga inaaping mamamayan.”
‘yang karamihan sa mga pulis lalo ‘yung katulad ng bading na nagpahiya kay tongue ay matapang lamang dahil meron silang tsapa at boga pero kapag katulad din nilang armado ang kaharap ay umuurong din ang bayag.
sabi nga ni mao, power lies in the barrel of a gun.
Tongue,
That’s an awful story. What happened? Did the cop release you without any more hassle?
Disliked na nga by her people, bully pa ito si Gloria ! Be careful nalang with ugly people like Gloria !
MANILA, Philippines – A Malacañang official on Monday said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was invited to the US by a group of lawmakers, but it was not clear whether or not she would go.
….The Evil Bitch is hesitant to go? Ha, ha, ha. Was there really an invitation in the first place? We call it KSP.
si gloria ay member ng illuminati kaya ganyan ang ugali niya akala niya kung sino siyang diyosa,yes diyosa o diyos ang tingin ng mga illuminati members sa sarili nila.
Syria:
Ilocano ka ba? Nothing personal really. Obeservation ko lang sa mga kababayan ng mother ko! But as I have stated, walang tatalo sa kayabangan noong mga dugong aso, lalo na iyong kriminal na akala mo kung sino!
I hate to compare the bulok police agency in the Philippines with our more efficient one in Japan, but I can’t help comparing and getting nauseated when I read this kind of story that is actually very believable.
Sa amin iyan, pag may nagreklamo, tanggal pihado iyong mga bully na hagad ni Tapalani, who will be the first one to be removed sa totoo lang. Baka kung sa Japan iyan, matagal nang wala sa mundong ibabaw si Tapalani y Bangaw. Matagal nang nag-harakiri ang lintik na iyan.
Unfortunately, hindi siya haponesa; kapalmuks, yes, kaya nakakayabang pa!
dito lang naman sa pilipinas, ang mga kriminal , magnanakaw at karamihan sinungaling , ang may escort na PSG….mga PSG sobrang OA at mayabang kung kumilos, wala rin naman…
You’re are not alone TonGuE-tWisTeD, sorry na tiyempuhan ka ng mga ganid sa kalsada…nag-aantay lang ng pangkape ang mga iyan.
Si dadong macapagal o ninoy aquino ang katapat ng mga swapang na yan.
Anna,
There was no point in holding me further, all my papers were in order, he cannot issue a ticket ‘cuz there wasn’t any violation, the fact that he endangered me into chasing my papers which flew farther and farther as the fast traffic blew past me was enough punishment, or so he thought. I didn’t have a name at the time as the rogue cop was wearing a reflectorized vest that covered his namepatch, his huge ID was turned over on his chest and the friggin motorcycle didn’t have license plates! I guess it was my few-blocks-away address on my papers that stopped the bastard from making kotong, he was definitely prepared against being identified.
To make it short, I pulled a few strings myself and found out he was the mayor’s escort. He was put there as punishment for several complaints of mulcting drivers of welcomers in the airport. I went to the mayor’s office and found him there. I went inside and came out with Mayor Trinidad who confronted his aide, “Bata, kumpare ko itong si xxxxxx xxxx, pasyal-pasyal ka muna ng dalawang linggo.” The clueless bastard was suspended according to my neighbor. Two years later, I read in the papers he was ambushed by men claiming to be NPA hitmen.
A suggestment to the PSG, make it appear as a funeral cortege, and the president and the bodyguards will get full respect and give a wide wide berth. The throng will even cry out loud their happiness. Cars will go aside immediately so as not to delay the interment.
“Two years later, I read in the papers he was ambushed by men claiming to be NPA hitmen.”
Tongue, ha.
Tounge,
As we say, what goes around, comes around!
I wonder when Gloria will experiecne the privilege of that dictum… hmmm.
Hihihihih!
“Cars will go aside immediately so as not to delay the interment.”
But there’s another dictum: Bad weeds never die.
Gabs,
That’s true! Turns out, this cop was also trigger-happy (thank God not on THAT day!) he’d salvaged all the neighborhood toughies where he lived. The news said he was cleaning his car – a recovered carnap which he never returned to the owner – one morning when two hitmen emptied on him their .45 cal. magazines and casually walked away after shouting “Mabuhay ang NPA!”.
AdeBrux,
Soon, I guess. Many new jobless guys are desperate, hunger turns people crazy you know. The target of the ambush yesterday in mom’s place was MMDA’s Esquivel,the guy in charge of demolitions. His vehicle was waylaid by Partisano, an NPA hit Squad, they left pamphlets in the area which detailed Esquivel’s sins, including the death of 2 slumdwellers in a Guadalupe demolition.
BTW, a protester threw his trainer shoes at China’s PM as he spoke in Cambridge U. Which reminds me of a recently-bastardized adage:
I was sad because I had no shoes to throw, until I met a reporter who had no feet
Inggit ako sa kanila. They have not lost their sense of outrage over lies and injustice.
That serves them right for the unauthorized use of government vehicles. No need to be an NPA to do that.They should be careful though not to destroy the GI.
These Motorcycle units are called spearheads. They are tasked to warn slow vehicles infront of the convoy. Thus the fact of being fast and compact, they should be very careful in stopping cars. Mahalay yang mga yan. Mostly Sundalo sila and PAF, or pulis na napromote kay gloria.
Well, in other countries ganyan din naman, mas mahalay ang NYPD when it comes to escorting. Mali ang mga naninipa at nambabangga ng sasakyan. May mali din po tayo, HINDI kase lahat ng pinoy alam what to do when theres an approaching convoy. Dapat po, if you here the siren, it means nasa likod na sila and youre too slow for their line. 2ND, they do it because NEAR VEHICLES and same speed vehicles are threat to a VIP. Rules yan, na binibigay sa mga convoy and escorts. Its their task. tinuturo yan sa Motorcyle Units all over the world.
Once we hear the siren, tabi, or pull over na lang.
Watch videos in youtube para alam nyo rin kung pano ihandle mga ganito. Kahit sa ibang bansa ganyan.