Wednesday, January 09, 2008 Barrita: Dancing inmates By Eddie O. Barrita Small Bites
IT’S final.
Cebu provincial and city jail inmates won’t be able to join the Sinulog, says the man in charge, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
These inmates have just lost an opportunity to show they're disciplined or to “rejoin” society without having to jimmy themselves out of jail cells and prison walls.
***
Mayor Osmeña admits having dancing inmates in the Sinulog is a novelty.
But he needs the police to keep the crowd safe instead of guarding the inmates.
You see, even without the 100 inmates joining the festivities and despite tight security, he still lost his wallet to a pickpocket during the 2003 grand parade.
*** The mayor said these dancing inmates should better perform inside their respective jails.
Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia’s and Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center Warden Efren Nemenio’s efforts will still not be in vain.
As one reader suggested, those who want to see these inmates can all go to jail.
***
Cebu City Police Office Director Pat Comendador told his men to be more careful because criminals have become bolder and more daring.
In the latest incident, robbers shot without warning two Mandaue City policemen, killing one and wounding another.
It’s time we need cops who are quick to the draw.
But please not the kind who’ll shoot first and ask questions later.
***
While their cops are being mowed down by robbers, Mandaue City officials are squabbling on what type of cars they’ll buy for the police.
But Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna insisted mobility was not an issue.
It’s how the police handle an issue at hand, Fortuna said.
Well, try chasing robbers on a fast motorbike with a trisikad or bleeding to death because help came late.
***
A report quoted a military spokesman as saying the communist insurgency is at its lowest in 20 years in 2007 with 5,760 guerrillas operating throughout the country.
I’m amazed on the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ ability to count communist insurgents.
But if the AFP can count them, why can’t they get them?
