If it weren’t for checkpoints, supporters of terrorist groups like Supt. Maria Nobleza, who was caught transporting medicines, clothing and food to Abu Sayyaf bandits in Bohol province early this year, would never have been caught.
Then again, residents and visitors of Mandaue City should never have to be forced by police guarding the checkpoints to open their bags and undergo body searches just like what supposedly occurred to a business process outsourcing (BPO) employee and a mall worker last Thursday.
The Police Regional Office made it clear as day that body searches and bag inspections will be done only if there are reports of terrorist and criminal activities ongoing in a particular area.
It’s part of the so-called “pursuit operation” in which both stationary and mobile checkpoints are set up to prevent escape for these criminals and terrorists.
The checkpoints in question were those manned by the Subangdaku police. And while they may reason that it is part of the crackdown on illegal drugs, they have not been issued an all-points bulletin (APB) by their mother precinct, the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), to watch out for illegal drug dealers or pushers.
Still, police manning both entry- and exit-level checkpoints, as well as mobile checkpoints, are required by protocol and procedure to use plain view as their mode of inspection and should not force anyone to open their bags and/or car doors to them nor force them to undergo body searches.
Body searches in particular are quite sensitive and controversial especially if it involves female motorists and commuters. Unscrupulous police will take advantage of this, and while Mandaue City Hall promised assistance, it’s no guarantee that there won’t be any abuse committed against the riding public.
And we’re not even talking about martial law — at least as implemented in Mindanao where checkpoints have been set up to crack down on the Maute terror group. The last time we checked, the only real terror threat that came near Cebu was the Abu Sayyaf misadventure in Bohol province.
And even then, the police manning the checkpoints were always reminded to exercise utmost courtesy and patience in dealing with the riding public.
That said, both motorists and commuters should just be as courteous and cooperative with the police in allowing inspections within reason.
If the police would ask to have one’s bags inspected, do so, but report any abusive behavior immediately if only to remind the police that their authority has limits and that they are in no position to go overboard.
Maintaining peace and order is a two-way street, and both the police and the public should cooperate constructively so that only the bad guys and not the law-abiding citizens would get caught.
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