Cop: Service knows no time

Being a policeman is a bloody and risky job, says PO1 Jilbert Cabajar of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7, especially now that the fight against criminality has heated up with the assumption of President Rodrigo Duterte.

This, however, is not a hindrance for him back down in the profession he wanted to pursue since he was 20 years old.

Cabajar, now 27, made the headlines recently when he neutralized an armed man who robbed and shot a local business manager at the dim corners of downtown Cebu City evening on August 24.

"It is my willingness and burning desire to serve the people who are in need and to respond directly when we are needed the most," he told The FREEMAN.

Cabajar was out of duty that night when he chanced upon the incident and figured in a shootout with the perpetrator.

In a police uniform or not, Cabajar said his function to protect the people is a 24-hour mandate.

He was on board a jeepney that time when he noticed an armed man snatching a sling bag from a man walking at the sidewalk along Colon Street. He got off from the jeepney but had to observe for a few seconds to check if the suspect had companions.

When he eventually approached the suspect and identified himself as a policeman, the suspect did not hesitate to wrestle with him and even fired three shots, albeit missing. The suspect got hit twice, in return, and did not make it to the hospital alive.

Cabajar said that while the situation often dictates a cop's response to an incident, policemen observe the Police Operational Procedures, which stipulates the rules they must observe when responding to operations or emergencies.

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) -7 Director lawyer Alvin Udron cites three important points every police officer must observe to ensure laws are duly enforced.

First, the basic and default mode is the use of non-violent means.

"This is in line with the policy of the police to always observe maximum tolerance. So, if the circumstances do not call for the use of force and firearms, the police must enforce the laws using nonviolent means," Udron said.

If the suspected law offender surrenders voluntarily, the police must arrest the offender using non-violent means, as he is not justified to use force and firearms.

Another level of law enforcement is the use of reasonable force.

He said the police are allowed to use certain degree of "proportionate use of force" if only to ensure that laws are duly enforced. Should the suspect resist or offer violence, the police is now authorized to apply proportionate force.

"This is expected during police arrests tungod kay maapektohan man ang liberty or freedom sa person who is the subject of arrest. Wala may tawo na ganahan mapriso, maong expected naa gyu'y certain degree of resistance, hence, the police is allowed to apply reasonable force," Udron explained.

Udron said the use of force by the police in the enforcement of laws is allowed only in exceptional situations like when the suspect uses force or violence.

The third level of law enforcement, Udron said, is the use of the police of a firearm.

"The use of firearm may be availed only by the police as last resort or recourse and only when there is imminent threat of life or serious injury to himself or the community," Udron said.

He said that if imminent threat to life or serious bodily injuries to himself or the community is imminent upon initial engagement, the police are authorized to use a firearm.

"That is why we always react to police statements nga kun mosukol ang suspect allowed na sila under the law na patyon ang suspect. We cannot find that in the standards, as last recourse, the police are only allowed to use a firearm, but not to kill the suspect," Udron said.

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director, Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, believes Cabajar's act of stopping a law offender is worthy of emulation.

"Police Officer 1 Cabajar was not on duty that time. He answered the call of duty when somebody needed it most… PO1 Cabajar just showed that police service is a 24/7 job whether you are on duty or off duty, we will serve and protect," he said.

RPSB-7 is one of the operational units of the Philippine National Police.

The regional office earlier planned to grant the "Medalya ng Kagalingan" to Cabajar for his "outstanding, exemplary and extraordinary performance of duty," which also reflects his dedication and commitment to service.

"The job of a policeman is a thankless job, but it's very fulfilling. Life is always in danger," he said.

Taliño said police officers have the responsibility to serve and protect the country but for him, real heroes are those who are dedicated and committed to their job.

Cabajar, he believes, is one example.

"Like PO1 Cabajar, naka-off duty siya tapos behind the call of duty mayroong nangangailangan ng tulong, tinulungan niya so he can be (considered) a hero," Taliño said.