Report unruly, sleeping cops; fill Lent with love – Church

REPORT unruly and sleeping cops, says the Philippine National Police (PNP). Yes, time to discipline bad cops – after their recent salary hike. *** The Catholic Church advises the people to fill Lent with love. No to hatred and foolishness this Lenten season.

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PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao has reminded the public to personally report to PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa any rogue cops through the “Text Bato” hotline 2286.

Translation: “Bato” is not numb. He’ll listen.

*** Bulalacao pointed out that Metro Manila cops who were caught by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde either sleeping or drinking liquor during surprise inspections last week were sanctioned, accordingly.

“[Text Bato hotline] is still active and it is being maintained by the PNP-DPCR (Directorate for Police Community Relations),” Bulalacao assured.

*** The PNP spokesman said, “Text Bato” is the 24/7 hotline project of the PNP that allows ordinary citizens to report crime incidents and law enforcement concerns directly to Dela Rosa.

Our chance to get even with bad cops as President Duterte had advised earlier.

*** Bulalacao revealed that Red Teams, or inspecting teams who are tasked to check the performance of policemen, will be conducting more spot checks in the coming days.

“This is to check the police on how they perform their job and all other requirements necessary for the effective and efficient performance of duty,” he said.

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Bulalacao said Albayalde last week made surprise inspections in several police precincts in Muntinlupa, Pasay, Makati, Manila, Caloocan, and Quezon City and found sleeping, drinking, and non-performing cops, resulting in the sacking of three chiefs of police and the relief of 20 others.

No more sleeping on the job. No more bad cops. *** Meanwhile, as Catholics start the observance of the 40-day season of Lent, a Church leader calls on the faithful to “fill Lent with love.” Love is better than hate or illwill, prelates say.

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“Let us move from cheap love to true love. Let us fill Lent with love,” said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas in a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News post.

Time for prayer, charity, fasting, and abstinence for Catholics, he said. *** Villegas said that for Catholics nationwide, love and sacrifice should go hand in hand.

“Love is best expressed by sacrifice. Love is best shown by suffering with your loved one or suffering instead of your loved one,” he said.

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Villegas said that through fasting, “the food we do not eat or the meat we abstain from must be given to those who practically fast everyday due to extreme poverty, enduring inhuman hunger.”

Yes to fasting and no to fasteating. Let’s care for the poor and the less fortunate, too.