Police on the Loose

Have our policemen gone mad?

This seems to be a fitting question in the light of the police’s decision to arrest Ted Failon, his in-laws and househelps for alleged obstruction of justice brought about by the tragedy of the shooting of Mr. Failon’s wife.

The police stormed the Failon’s residence and the hospital where his wife was being treated in an attempt to arrest him and other persons related to him. While the police’s swift action to investigate the alleged shooting is commendable, the action the police has resorted to is however despicable. The arrests conducted by the police were made with blatant disregard for the rights of the victim’s families, relatives and friends.

The police chose to ignore the pleas of the lawyers of the personalities involved that their legal rights ought to be respected. Instead, the police proceeded to effect the arrests without any warrants. Worst, the police arrested the relatives of Ted Failon’s wife at a time when the family was needed most by their dying kin.

A little act of mercy and respect should have been shown by the police as a gesture to commiserate with the plight of the family. Or perhaps, the police may have thought to get even with Ted Failon for his hard hitting stance against the police, the Arroyo administration, and his possible inclusion in the opposition senatorial ticket for the 2010 elections?

Whatever may have been their motivations, I hope that our police are reminded that ours is a government of laws and not of men. Respect for the rule of law must prevail, which necessarily includes respect for the rights of the accused.

Related Link:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/feedback/04/19/09/police-loose-ted-failon-case