Get tougher on the national police and use an iron fist to keep cops in line, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption told President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday.
This would create a “fear factor” against rogue policemen, especially those involved in cases of impunity and possible brutality, VACC President Arsenio “Boy” Evangelista said in a press conference.
He lamented that cops were involved in drug cases and other crimes, saying they were able to “reclaim the streets” of Metro Manila.
Evangelista also condemned the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar in Navotas City by local policemen in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
“It is perhaps about time that (the President) BBM should [be] hands-on from time-to-time or most of the time. He should be visible on national TV (castigating cops), showing ‘kamay na bakal’ (iron fist), and delivering a severe message to policemen,” he added in a radio interview.
“During the time of [former President Rodrigo] Duterte, we saw that cops straightened up, if they weren’t frightened into obeying. There was a climate of fear among the uniformed personnel,” said Evangelista.
This was not the first time that public sectors and officials urged Marcos to be angrier when people in his government show lapses in their duty. The Palace has yet to comment on the matter at press time.
Earlier this year, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he wanted Marcos Jr to be “more mean” to government officials who partly contributed to the high prices of onions due to their shortcomings.