BY ISMAEL AMIGO, 1st-APLUMA NATIONAL PRESIDENT

 

THE 300 police bus marshals deployed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deter criminality and ensure the safety of riding public should not only focus on preventing the repeat of the bus bombing along Buendia Ave. recently that claimed five lives.

 

They should also put premium on stopping some criminal elements preying on hapless passengers who rely on buses to ferry them from home to work and vice versa.

 

I have some friends who had their cellphones taken away recently by members of the so-called “ipit” and “laglag-barya” gangs inside a public utility bus.

 

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My friend bought a Nokia C-5 phone amounting roughly to P8,000 using her 13thmonth pay.

 

Protecting her investment, she even bought a leather casing just to protect the cellphone from scratches and dirt.

 

But in one fell swoop, she lost her pricely possession to three members of “laglag-barya” gang.

 

She was aboard a bus going to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City when a woman dropped coins infront of her.

 

Then two men went down looking for the coins, even lifting her leg to see if the money is under her shoes.

 

Unknown to her, the lady had already taken her cellphone which was hidden in her beltbag.

 

She only discovered that she lost the unit when she was already at the office. She could only cry upon discovering what happened.

 

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Another friend was sandwiched by three men while he was looking for an empty seat.

 

Two of the men pushed him but he cannot move because the one infront of him wasn’t moving.

 

While he was being pushed, one of the men quickly picked his pocket and grabbed the cellphone unnoticed.

 

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These are just two examples of petty crimes that the PNP should look into quickly because most of the victims here are minimum-wage earners who toil blood, sweat and tears to make a living.

 

I am convinced that the PNP, if it will only put its foot down on criminality, will eliminate all of these syndicates.

 

Marami na rin kasi akong naririnig na ilan sa mga sindikato ay alaga rin ng mga pulis.

 

Paging, PNP chief Raul Bacalzo!!!