Corruption, here too

Corruption, here too

I had a friend in New York who grew up in very difficult circumstances in Brooklyn almost starving, witnessing rape as a child in his neighborhood and you can imagine the rest.  He was an insomniac and would walk the streets of Manhattan.  Among his many interesting observations he noticed all the drug dealing corners.  He was so opposed to drugs due to his early childhood he would suffer headaches without a simple aspirin.

In his many walks, he decided to map the drug dealing corners after many observations.  Once he had a section of Manhattan mapped he presented the information to the police.  Yes, corruption exists in all nations.  Nothing was done – ever.

Now to Makati, Metro Manila last week, an activist for Unit Owners who is a caretaker was attacked after taking the jeepney from the Fort to Guadalupe near EDSA.  She took the pathway near Jollibee where she was approached by two women – one about 17 and the other older.  They tried to take her bags demanding her to release them which she would not do.  They cut one arm three times and the other four along with other smaller cuts.

She pushed the one younger girl to the ground and a woman stranger stepped on the girl’s face.  Unfortunately, the girl was able to get up and run away.  The other woman was hit by a male stranger and she ran away, too.

Bleeding she went to the local police station.  Yes, here begins the corruption in Metro Manila.  The police did not invite her in for comfort but asked why she was walking where she was since there are criminals there.  She was shocked by their indifference and stated that that is the path in the area.  She asked the police what commission they get from such robberies.

I have heard many other such stories about the police here and doing a web search found international human rights organizations reporting on police torture in the Philippines even here in Manila.

So this is another reason for anyone coming to the Philippines to think more than twice and watch their surroundings always trying to travel with others taking the safest transportation possible.  Oh, taxis are not always the safest since robberies, as I have been told, are set up in cooperation with some drivers.

It’s More Fun in the Philippines.