Forwarded From: "Maureen M. Papio"
>
> >
> > hi..dunno if this is true pero ingat nalang din tayo.. have a nice
day!
> >
> > mauie
> >
> > >Pls find time to read this...and pass it on to your
> > >frineds. You might encounter the same incident that
> > >happened to us, so be aware. - Mela
> > >
> > >This incident happened on the night of June 27, 2003
> > >My boyfriend James, and I, decided to watch Charlie's
> > >Angels Full Throttle at the Festival Mall in Alabang.
> > >Because it was the opening night, and it fell on a
> > >weekend, the movie theatres were crowded. However, we
> > >have managed to purchase 2 theartre seats for the last
> > >full show (10:10 pm) at Cinema 6. Since it was only
> > >past 8pm, we decided to eat dinner first and went back
> > >to Cinema 6 by 10pm.To our surprise, the cinema was
> > >already "jampacked" and the security guard insisted
> > >that we sit on monobloc chairs, to be placed near the
> > >exit. We argued that we wont be able to view the
> > >screen properly, and watch the movie comfortably. And
> > >to speak that the theatre has even a SURE SEATS
> > >POLICY.Therefore, not giving us a good value for our
> > >money. We, then, demanded a full refund of our money
> > >paid for the movie tickets. The guard in the cinema
> > >(the same one who insisted that we sit on monobloc
> > >chairs) sternly instructed us to address our request
> > >with the ticket office.Fortunately, we were able to
> > >retrieve our money. The people from the ticket office
> > >did not even apologize for the inconvenience they have
> > >caused us.
> > >But that wasn't the worst part yet. Since we werent
> > >able to watch a movie, weve decided to pick up some
> > >coffee from Starbucks and consume it in our car
> > >located at the open-air parking lot. As we were having
> > >coffee, a police officer flashed his flashlight on the
> > >windshield of our car and told us (in a very offending
> > >manner) to get out of the car. We were alert not to
> > >do so! The police communicated with us through the
> > >carwindow instead. He told us that the security guard
> > >in the area called them ( the 2 police officers) to
> > >complain us for indecent and lewd acts inside our car.
> > >The police demamded for our identification so we
> > >submitted valid ID's (an SSS ID and a Driver's license
> > >to be exact). Upon ckecking our ID's, the police again
> > >asked where we reside. He went to the patrol car and
> > >returned after about a minute. He asked us again what
> > >and where we work.We told him that I am a student
> > >(LLB) and that my boyfriend has just resigned from his
> > >work to go abroad. Upon hearing this, he told us that
> > >we would have to go with them to the precint abd have
> > >our names blottered!!!Right there and then, we
> > >objected. We reasoned out that FIRST, we were not
> > >engaged in any illicit activity. We were just seated,
> > >talking, NOT any of our body parts in contact with one
> > >another. We have our clothes on, APPROPRIATELY.
> > >SECOND, since we were not transgressing any
> > >law(legally & morally), what right do they have to
> > >demand that we go to the precint with them? THIRD,if
> > >we were engaged in lascivious acts, as complained by
> > >the parking lot security guard to the police
> > >officers,why didnt the security guard approached us
> > >and warned us of our behavior (he can even a sk us to
> > >leave)?Isnt it the guards duty to directly maintain
> > >peace and order in their designated areas? A s our
> > >vigilance arise, we told the police, "Sir, we know our
> > >rights. You can't do that." Upon this statement, the
> > >officer hesitated, paused briefly, amd said "Basta,
> > >umalis na kayo. Umailis na lang kayo dito." He
> > >immediately went back to the patrol car and left, not
> > >giving us the chance to get even get their names.
> > >With the incident above, I would like to emphasize on
> > >the following questions:
> > > 1)Why didnt the Security guard of the Festival Mall
> > >parking lot warned us if we were really doing
> > >something illicit?
> > > 2) Weren't the police officer supposed to knock on
> > >our car window (as SOP) before he spoke to us?
> > > 3) Why does the police asked for our place of
> > >residence despite the fac t that he has our valid ID's
> > >with our addresses on it? And why does the police
> > >asked for what and where our jobs are? Does it have
> > >anything to do with their accusations?
> > > 4) When we held our objactions to go to the
> > >precint, why did the officer suddenly changed his mind
> > >and instead, he instructed us to leave the vicinity
> > >ASAP? Ifwe are truly liable for indecent acts, they
> > >wouldnt let go of us just like that.
> > > The next day, I have shared the incident to my
> > >classmates and was astounded to hear that the same
> > >thing happened to one of them too. I was informed that
> > >this was a MODUS OPERANDI of the police officers in
> > >that said area victimizing young couples.If we happen
> > >to make the mistake of being submissive and joining
> > >them in the precint, the policemen could have planted
> > >prohibited drugs inside our car, therefore giving them
> > >the oppurtunity to deman money from us.
> > > This is a CLEAR AND UNDERSTATED CASE OF PURE
> > >HARRASMENT AND VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS.
> > >Let us be aware of our surroundings and the
> > >people(even public authorities) who demand ANYTHING
> > >from us. Let this incident be a lesson, not only to
> > >me and my boyfriend, but to all of us. Thank you for
> > >your time.






