IMPUNITY” was the word used in several netizen reactions to the case of alleged police brutality involving Talamban police members.
The word refers to being exempted from punishment or not having any fear of the consequences of their actions. And because there is no fear of getting caught or of being prosecuted, they continue to commit the illegal act.
In cases of corruption, as an example, impunity comes to play when the corrupt continue to steal, in amounts growing bigger, without fear of getting arrested. The act is not committed only once but on several occasions because no one would be brave enough to stop them and pursue their prosecution.
The three men who were mauled allegedly by policemen of the Talamban station in Cebu City were brave enough to speak to SunStar and Superbalita Cebu about the violation of their rights. Would they be willing to see this through to the end? Until the policemen are removed from their jobs and placed behind bars?
It will be tough for them and their families. But others can assist them in bearing the burden of revealing the abuse. They can air their disgust or help demand for justice because, really, it’s not just about the three mauled men.
As some netizens pointed out, if this happened despite the security camera, how many more of the brutality took place without getting recorded on video?
In the policemen’s case, they will have to respond to the accusations of mauling as their superiors have taken cognizance of news reports on their alleged involvement in the beating of three male civilians inside a gaming shop (not an internet cafe, as earlier reported) in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City on April 18. The victims also said a policeman stole money from one of them.
The policemen reportedly knew there was a security camera, but that didn’t stop them.
The latest on this incident is that the Talamban policemen were removed from their posts and ordered to face an investigation. It is now up to the police leadership to ensure the policemen get a fair trial and the mauling victims get justice.
The action of the police leadership will help recover what credibility the institution may have lost because of this incident.
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One person who sees his future with the police organization is former “McDonald’s boy” Daniel “Biboy” Cabrera. He was the boy who used to study under the lights of a McDonald’s outlet in Mandaue City. His photo, taken by Joyce Torrefranca in 2015, went viral and Cabrera received donations to help him finish schooling. He graduated from elementary school last March.
Cabrera said his dream is to become a policeman, although he admitted he doesn’t like to go camping like the boy scouts do since he finds it dangerous. But, he added, it is not necessary for a policeman to bring himself to danger. A policeman only needs to do his best to protect the people, he said.