"Too much!" is all I can say of what has happened to the 13 people allegedly killed in a "shoot-out" (and not a "massacre") in Atimonan considering that guidelines or protocols that should have been followed were violated.
It is definitely the latest time, still enough to save lives, to raise the awareness of people regarding the things everyone should know when about to approach police checkpoints. What should we know about police checkpoints?
What You Should Know When in Police Checkpoints
1. It should be well-lit (not dark). The personnel checking should be in proper uniform.
Maliwanag dapat ang checkpoint at naka-uniporme ang nagbabantay na personnel.
2. When asked to stop over at the checkpoint, lower down your car speed, turn off the headlights and switch on the cabin lights. Don't get out of the car.
Kapag pinalapit sa checkpoint, bagalan ang takbo ng sasakyan, patayin
ang headlights at buksan ang cabin lights. Huwag lumabas ng sasakyan.
3. Lock your car doors. Remember that policemen are to conduct a visual search only.
I-lock ang mga pinto. Visual search lang ang pwedeng gawin ng mga pulis.
4. Don't allow a body search.
Huwag pumayag sa body search.
5. You are not obliged to open your glove compartment, trunk or bag.
Hindi ka obligadong buksan ang iyong glove compartment, trunk o bag.
6. When the policeman asks routine questions, please answer courteously.
Kung magtatanong ng routine questions ang mga pulis, sumagot nang magalang.
7. Have conviction with your rights and don't panic.
Panindigan ang iyong mga karapatan at huwag mag-panic.
8. Make sure you can easily grab your driver's license and other car registration documents.
Tiyaking madali mong makukuha ang iyong driver's license at mga papeles sa car registration.
9. Always have your cellphone with you and make sure it's reliable.
Laging ihanda ang cellphone.
10. Report at once, if you feel you were denied of your rights.
I-report agad kung nilabag ang iyong mga karapatan.
Source: PNP-PIO
Source: PNP-PIO
