FYI: Checkpoints

[jjmd3_787]

Police checkpoints are very important as deterrents from crimes. Pero ung report nung 1 gabi about a UNTV broadcaster harassed at a checkpoint refreshes my memory about what had happened to my friend...

Na-checkpoint siya sa panulukan ng Ma. Clara St. corner N. Roxas QC years ago, dimly lit ang area, at brusko yung mga pulis. They checked his glove compartment and allegedly found sticks of marijuana! They bullied him into forcing a confession on the spot which he strongly denied. Anyway, nakuhanan siya ng php10,000 para daw hindi siya ikulong. And I know this is not an isolated case.

So I made sure this will not happen to me. I went to my uncle who's a lawyer to know my rights in such situation. And here's some which I am happy to share:

1. the checkpoint must be in an adequately lit area
2. the police officers must have visible IDs or nameplates
3. the police officers must be courteous at all times and explains the procedure they are about to do
4. being a random inspection, checkpoints will be limited to visual searches only. Wala kasi silang search warrant. You have the right to be the one to sort the things out from your glove & trunk compartments for inspection. The police officers can only watch and may just give further instructions to broaden their inspection
5. lastly, in cases of the absence of nameplates or IDs, the police officers must tell their names when asked

Vigilance is a must! Hindi lang kasi mga pulis ang nagsusuot ng uniporme at nagco-conduct ng checkpoints. There are many lawless elements around.

Be safe...

[Taurus]

This is true. You could also stop to a well lit area and with people around if theirs are not. I have also heard that a warning shot is now also not allowed :police:

Know your rights!

[Galactus]

Re: the UNTV reporter who was allegedly harassed, hindi naman sa checkpoint nangyari yun eh.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...-of-harassment

UNTV host accuses QC cops of harassment


By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:58:00 05/19/2009

Filed Under: Media, Police, Justice & Rights, Crime


MANILA, Philippines—A host of a local cable channel yesterday accused two Quezon City policemen of harassment, claiming they flagged her down and then searched her belongings without a warrant.

Lyn Perez, 40, a host on UNTV, said she was driving along a dark portion of Examiner Road at around 4 a.m. on her way to her morning program when she heard a siren and saw a police car behind her vehicle.

“It wasn’t a checkpoint. The mobile car flagged me down and I slowed down,” she said.

A policeman whom she described as being in his 40s and with dark skin approached her and asked her for her driver’s license.

“[He told me] the tint of my car windows was too dark. He did not cite any other offense,” Perez said, adding that she had introduced herself as a member of media.

She recalled that the policeman asked her to open the door on the right side of her car. He then took her bag and went through it without telling her what he was looking for.

“In my mind, I knew he couldn’t do that without a search warrant,” Perez said, adding that the policeman allowed her go to but not before telling her, “Take care, you were driving a little fast.”

Upon learning of the incident, Quezon City Police District director, Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego, ordered his men to help Perez identify the two policemen.

Perez, however, said she was not able to get the policeman’s name or the number of his police car.

[Galactus]

Re: the UNTV reporter who was allegedly harassed, hindi naman sa checkpoint nangyari yun eh.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...-of-harassment

UNTV host accuses QC cops of harassment


By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:58:00 05/19/2009

Filed Under: Media, Police, Justice & Rights, Crime


MANILA, Philippines—A host of a local cable channel yesterday accused two Quezon City policemen of harassment, claiming they flagged her down and then searched her belongings without a warrant.

Lyn Perez, 40, a host on UNTV, said she was driving along a dark portion of Examiner Road at around 4 a.m. on her way to her morning program when she heard a siren and saw a police car behind her vehicle.

“It wasn’t a checkpoint. The mobile car flagged me down and I slowed down,” she said.

A policeman whom she described as being in his 40s and with dark skin approached her and asked her for her driver’s license.

“[He told me] the tint of my car windows was too dark. He did not cite any other offense,” Perez said, adding that she had introduced herself as a member of media.

She recalled that the policeman asked her to open the door on the right side of her car. He then took her bag and went through it without telling her what he was looking for.

“In my mind, I knew he couldn’t do that without a search warrant,” Perez said, adding that the policeman allowed her go to but not before telling her, “Take care, you were driving a little fast.”

Upon learning of the incident, Quezon City Police District director, Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego, ordered his men to help Perez identify the two policemen.

Perez, however, said she was not able to get the policeman’s name or the number of his police car.

[jjmd3_787]

I stand corrected...
Mas malala pa pala yung nangyari sa UNTV broadcaster. It's a bitter sad reality that police can do whatever they want with a civilian. Importante talagang alam mo ang rights mo.

[kurby]

Question:

If for example they apprehended you with a violation and they wanted to ride on your vehicle do you have the right to refuse?

[kevin3000]

kung sakaling may makitang mga marijuana at kung ano2 sa sasakyan niyo wag na wag niyong hahawakan, para walang fingerprint

[rushmore]

Nice info thanks..

[praetor91313]

kung sakaling may makitang mga marijuana at kung ano2 sa sasakyan niyo wag na wag niyong hahawakan, para walang fingerprint

Hindi ba grounds yan for dismissal of the case? Kasi they made an illegal search of your vehicle. Masyadong madami na yata akong napapanood na broadcasts from the US, hehehe...

Another thing: you can always tell the truth that the item found in your glove compartment was planted.

Kaya dapat may laging nakatabing number nglawyer natin sa wallet.

[dale323]

Actually wag nyo din masyado ioopen yung window. pwede kasi nila ipitin yung sachet ng shabu/marijuana sa kamay nila together with the flashlight. As much as possible, open mo lang yung ilaw sa loob.

[praetor91313]

Isn't it sad to think they're the ones tasked to protect us?

Tapos pinipilit nilang sila lang dapat may karapatan na magdala ng firearms? Doesn't it make you realize that they're really just goons in uniform? Think on it: binabawal tayo magdala ng pangsagip ng buhay natin saying we should just trust in them to save our lives, yet when our lives get endangered, napakaduwag naman at nagtatago sa likod ng kasamahan nila.

Now look at this thread. We're advising each other on how to protect ourselves from them.

Hay... nakakalungkot talaga.

Of course, some of our LEOs are true to their oaths, pero sobrang konti.

Which also made me remeber seeing several shuttles with "To Serve And Protect" stickers on their windows. Ano yun? Bakit kailangan ipost pa dun? Para ba pag may krimen tayong nakikita pwede natin silang parahin? Of course not. Para di sila hulihin ng kabaro nila di ba? WAla na talaga mangyayari sa bansa natin.

[kurby]

Whenever I see cops I feel lke I'm seeing black angels, goons with guns, robbers on uniform, and bad people. Which I know I should be seeiing or even thinking.

I should see them as good guys.

But, most of the time it isn't the case. I don't know if there is a stigma about our police force but I always feel there is. I pity them and despise them at the same time. This feeling, this phobia I have with them turns fear into anger. They use their power and uniform in doing various illegal and notorious deeds not just on the roads and they use this power to prey on the one who feeds them.

Instead of seeing a police makes me feel safe, it makes me feel that something is wrong or they might accuse someone of something. Which sometimes I ask my self if I am being bothered by this phobia or am I having a "criminal mind." Nevertheless, it's the former.

On the other hand, I pity the last good police who's left in the force. The force is somehow generalized as a bad force and I seldom see good cops. The pride and honor has been replaced by mistrust and disgust which is why when you dismiss all of the bad police men I guess nothing or few will be left.

What are the causes? Is it the lack of funding by the government? Is it the lack of discipline by these people? Is it the attitude of the civilians to them? Is it their power? Or is it their tradition?

[nc28]

I have something to share na similar din sa stories niyo, maybe some knows this story already. Eto yung story ni hostage taker mendoza. Madami na talaga police na maloloko and it's hard for us civilians because we don't know what to do lalo na kapag wala kapit sa government.

[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Mga pards,[/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3] Bobby Kalaw, HS’71, narrated to me how his son, Christian, had an encounter with hostage taker, Mendoza, in 2008.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]


[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Christian drove that night to Torre Lorenzo on Vito Cruz to drop off a laptop at the lobby. He parked on a vacant slot along the road. When he came back to the car, there were cops beside his car. They accused him of illegal parking. When he asked them how can he be illegally parked when there were other cars parked in front and at the back of his car. “Pilosopo ka pala!” retorted one cop. “bukasan mo yung trunk”.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]When Christian opened the trunk, the cop then threw marijuana and pills inside and accused Christian “drug user ka pala!” Christian then turned to the crowd that had gathered and shouted “kita ninyo nilagay!” The cop then turned to the crowd with his hand on his gun and asked “sino ang nakakita?” The crowd immediately turned away.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]The cop then instructed Christian to sit at the driver’s seat. The cop then got the seatbelt and wrapped it around Christian’s neck and pulled. As Christian was choking, the cop pulled his head back and the other cop shoved shabu down his throat….“yan may shabu ka na sa sistema mo!”, the cop said. (Christian later told his dad that his stomach grumbled from the shabu)[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]The cops then boarded Christian’s car and ordered him to produce his ATM card. They then went to the nearest BPI branch where the cop was caught on video using the card to withdraw the money from Christian’s account (the Ombudsman used this piece of evidence to convict the cops).[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]They then drove to the precinct where Christian was brought to hostage-taker, Mendoza . Mendoza then instructed Christian to contact any body he wished who can give them the money for his release. Bobby Kalaw was in the province when his son called him up. Mendoza took the phone and told Bobby that his son is in jail for possession of illegal drugs and that he is a drug user. He then demanded P230,000 for his release. Bobby replied that he did not have that large amount of money.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]By then, one of the friends that Christian contacted came with P20,000 in cash. The cops then released Christian.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Mayor Lim learned of this incident when he was in a speaking engagement in SFO. Some one in the crowd read to Mayor Lim, Bobby’s email warning his La Salle friends to beware of the police precinct in Malate and their modus operandi on students.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Mayor Lim, upon his return, sacked the whole precinct and transferred Mendoza to Mindanao .[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]The Ombudsman then filed the appropriate cases against all the cops in the precinct that resulted in their conviction. Bobby was hesitant to file a case because they have no witnesses, no medical report and no evidence. It was the Ombudsman that gathered the evidence that incriminated the cops.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Bobby learned from his niece that she knows of 5 other students that were victimized by the same cops using the same modus operandi.[/SIZE]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Bobby and Christian have put this episode behind them and moved on. They do not wish to be a part in Mendoza ’s hostage-taking caper. Bobby even told GMA’s Mike Enriquez that since he has nothing good to say about Mendoza then he will just keep his mouth shut.[/SIZE] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][SIZE=3] [/SIZE] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]Cheers.[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[praetor91313]

Makes me want to buy one of those spycams... they're relatively cheap nowadays.

Does anybody have one? Are they any good?

[praetor91313]

Makes me want to buy one of those spycams... they're relatively cheap nowadays.

Does anybody have one? Are they any good?

[kurby]

There are spycams that comes with an eyeglass and shades as well the also have pen cams that has built in 2gb memory and a usb to transfer the files.

A friend of mine once told me it I didn't buy however because I thought it deemed no use. Until I read this goon squad. Now I want one.

Yes, they are basically cheap you can get one worth 2,000-4,000 pesos and it's made in china. I haven't tried it yet though.

[timtonymanu]

Sa highways naman, dimly lit ang mga checkpoints, lalo na jan sa parteng bulacan, minsang magugulat ka na lang dahil bubulaga sayo ung karatula ng checkpoint na walang ilaw.

Ung iba namang idiot na "law enforcers" kuno, after ng sharp blind curve saka maglalagay ng one way na checkpoint, mapapa sudden stop ka talaga.

other checkpoints naman, makikita mo ang nagmamando eh hindi mga pulis kundi mag civilian, pero take note, may hawak na mahahabang baril (pinapahiram siguro ng pulis doon)

pero ang pinaka masaklap, eh ung mga trucks na humihinto sa mga checkpoints at maghuhulog ng pera sa kalsada.