Sexy Lady Cops and Silly Dancing Cops

In their battle against bad drivers and even badder criminals the PNP is breaking out some unique techniques.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1164826/siquijor-town-has-first-all-female-police-force-in-ph

A fifth-class municipality in the island province of Siquijor on Saturday became the first town in the country to have an all-female police force, the Philippine National Police said. 

Maria, a coastal municipality that is fast becoming a popular tourist destination for its white sand beaches and mystical folktales, took the government’s program of women empowerment one step further by setting up a police force entirely composed of female officers. 

“This move will strongly advance women empowerment in promoting public safety and security services at all levels of police units and offices in the region,” Police Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, said in a statement. 

“They were trained on driving, shooting, arresting techniques and other police operation and intervention procedures such as checkpoint, automated fingerprint identification system and first aid, among others,” she said. 

Representing Sinas at the event, Police Col. Ildebrandi Usana said the “Mariang Pulis” highlighted how women all over the world had proven to be among the most efficient members of any workforce. 

“Mariang Pulis, as a show window, will also tell the world that the PNP is a gender-friendly organization,” Usana said.

The picture above is not a picture of the all-female police force. That would be this picture which is also posted on the PRO7 Facebook page.

From their Facebook page we read the following.

PRO7 launches First All-Women Police Station in the province of Siquijor 

The Philippine National Police marks history with a game-changing reform on women empowerment. 

The Siquijor Police Provincial Office (SPPO) said it is named as the "Mariang Pulis" in Maria Municipal Police Station. Said police Station is presently operating in the Municipality of Maria in the provincial island of Siquijor. 

This maiden initiative in Central Visayas is backed by Regional Director, PRO7 PBGEN DEBOLD M SINAS. 

The women-dominated police station follows a rich history of the Municpality of Maria. Long before the Spaniards came to Siquijor, a settlement known as "Kangmaya", named after a famous woman, already existed. It was eventually renamed to "Maria" in honor of "Our Lady of Divine Providence" which became the town's Patron Saint. 

Maria is fifth-class municipality with a total land area of 53.37 sq. km, which constitutes to 15 percent of Siquijor's total land area. 

Prior to the launch, Maria Police Station was complimented by only six policewomen. PCOL ANGELA Q REJANO, Provincial Director of SPPO, profiled all the assigned policewomen in the province and selected those who will undertake a capacity development training. They were trained on driving, shooting, arresting techniques, and other police operation and intervention procedures such as checkpoint, Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and First Aid, among others. Maria Police Station is now operating in full capacity with 21 total police strength, the ideal police force for a Class C municipality. 

"Having initiated this new concept of gender and developmen for policewomen in Siquijor, the Mariang Pulis signals the time to move forward in promoting the vision and mission of the PNP in creating an opportunity for women to strengthen their role jn the context of policing in the law enforcement pillar," said PCOL REJANO. 

The official launching of "Mariang Pulis" is now led by newly designated Chief of Police, PCPT JUDITH BESAS, equally capable of steering the police station to its heights.

https://www.facebook.com/PRO7PNP/posts/2723964934303182

Wow all these women are trained to shoot, arrest criminals, man a checkpoint, fingerprint, and render first aid...just like every other PNP officer!! This is nothing less than a PR stunt. A very foolish PR stunt at that. In the name of gender equality and empowerment the PNP has formed an all-female police squad. Not only is that purposively sexist as it excludes men but any man would easily be able to overpower these women when they attempt to arrest him. Men are stronger than women. Imagine these women trying to take down a strong male criminal. 

It's also not true that women have been "proven to be among the most efficient members of any workforce." The opposite is true which is why they are paid less and are in less positions of authority. Just recently a law was passed forcing employers to give them so many months of paid maternity leave. What a burden on any company that is, paying workers to not work just because they are females.

An all female business is also doomed to fail.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1168182/Catfights-handbags-tears-toilets-When-producer-launched-women-TV-company-thought-shed-kissed-goodbye-conflict-.html

The story in that article is hilarious. But maybe Filipinas are different? No. Women are the same the world over.

Traffic on EDSA is a nightmare. Bad drivers are much to blame which is why the PNP is deploying lady cops to patrol the roads. But not just any lady cops, "Girlfriend material."

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/09/15/1951890/edsa-traffic-hpg-deploys-girlfriend-material

The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is back on EDSA, with its armed teams seen to have a greater “intimidating factor” than unarmed traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). 

If the intimidation doesn’t work, the HPG has also fielded 23 of its female police officers. And both the HPG and MMDA have admitted that looks played a key role in the deployment of what is called the “ladies’ strike force.” 

Asked what the term meant, MMDA traffic czar Edison Nebrija told “The Chiefs” last week on Cignal TV’s One News: “Girlfriend material.” 

Brushing aside warnings that he might be accused of being sexist, he said EDSA “is stressful enough,” and deploying “head turners” on EDSA could ease the tension during traffic apprehensions. 

He said the inclusion of female cops in the HPG’s traffic force is part of their gender equality program. 

This was corroborated by PNP-HPG spokesperson Lt. Col. Ritchie Claraval, who said drivers may avoid violating traffic rules if they see traffic-stopping women who look like models directing vehicular flow. 

“One of the drivers would say, ‘nakakahiyang mag-violate tayo, may mga magagandang babae pa man din diyan ng HPG,’” Claraval said. 

Nebrija admitted that armed police officers “have an intimidating factor. I agree that there’s an institutional respect for them. When you see a police officer on the road, riding a motorcycle or mobile, armed, motorists will say, ‘Ay pulis yan, sumunod tayo.’” 

The 23 patrolwomen were among a batch of about 40 who volunteered to be part of the traffic “strike force.” 

Among the requirements, Claraval said, was that they learn how to drive a motorcycle. He admitted that looks played a part in the selection, although he stressed that all female members of the HPG – about 100 – are good-looking. 

Describing the 23, Nebrija said, “They’re not just like any other police officers, they’re like models. They’re really pretty. They are really head turners.” 

“It’s more pleasing if somebody apprehending you has a pleasing personality. They’re a game changer, so to speak. Traffic in EDSA is stressful as it is already,” Nebrija said. 

Claraval chimed in: “We call them strike force because they have striking looks.”

Again another dog and pony show. The PNP says it's all about gender equality but then say these ladies were chosen because they look like models. No ugly girls need apply. How is that not sexist? Why would beautiful lady cops make drivers avoid violating traffic rules? It's a ridiculous claim.

These ladies will not be looking like models when they are on the job. With their white motorcycle helmets and blue uniforms they will look like cops and nothing else. But what if sexy models were out on patrol? Traffic would crawl as everyone slows down to get a look. The last thing EDSA needs is women who will turn heads and bring traffic to even more of a crawl for rubbernecking looky-loos.

Over in Cebu dancing cops are helping to not only direct the flow of traffic but also keep drivers entertained.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/256415/cebu-city-cops-battle-traffic-problems-with-dance-music

Dignos, a member of the of Cebu City Police Office-Traffic Patrol Group (CCPO-TGP), then starts managing the traffic flow, a tough job considering that the area is one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. 

But Dignos is not your regular traffic police. 

His day’s work is not just about blowing the whistle and pointing which direction should the vehicles go to ensure a smooth-flowing traffic situation. 

Instead, the 37-year-old traffic police performs a dance routine for 15 to 30 minutes in one of Cebu City’s busiest intersections during peak hours. 

With funny dance steps and a pleasing personality, Dignos joins his fellow traffic police in fulfilling the mission of Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan, CCPO director, who spearheaded the launching of the “Dancing Cop” project last July 2019. 

Vinluan says the presence of dancing cops in the city’s busy streets sends a message that police personnel are friendly and approachable. 

Noting Cebu City’s notorious gridlock situations, Vinluan says the least that they can do is to make those who are stuck in traffic happy. 

“We can’t easily find solutions to the heavy traffic due to our limitations. [So our traffic police are here] even in a few minutes, to be the reasons for your smiles,” she tells CDN Digital. 

He performs his dance routine on peak hours, between 7 to 8 a.m., when monstrous traffic jams often happen in his work station, the intersection of Osmeña Boulevard and Colon Street. 

Private school teacher Louie Birondo says the presence of dancing cops on the city streets has two sides. 

While their presence entertains motorists who are stuck in traffic, Birondo says a dancing policeman does not solve a problem that involves a continuous line of vehicles blocking an entire network of streets that brings traffic to a standstill.

Thanks to the power of Google you can view the intersection of Osmeña Blvd. and Colon St. from the comfort of your own home. 

Link to streetview

Using the 360 view feature you can see that each intersection has traffic lights. So what is the problem? In Bacolod the only time cops are deployed to direct traffic is when the lights are not working or at heavy intersections where there are no lights. I don't live in Cebu nor am I familiar with their traffic problem but at an intersection like this I bet bad driving is much to blame as is the case across the nation. You know what I mean: not staying in your lane, dangerously overtaking, running red lights, slow tricycles, jeepnies stopping randomly etc., etc,

There is nothing wrong with cops directing the flow of traffic and even dancing while they do it. Obviously the nature of directing traffic is a kind of dance since you are waving your hands and spinningg around to face each lane. But the reasoning of Cebu City PNP to form a "Dancing Cop" project to put a smile on your face is stupid. Why does everything in the Philippines have to be about entertainment or looking good at the expense of utility? 

Pretty funny that PNP Col. Gimma Vinulan who created the "Dancing Cop" project says: “We can’t easily find solutions to the heavy traffic due to our limitations." Have they even tried? Has the DOTr tired? Has City Hall studied the problem and issued recommendations?

Probably not. Probably no one has offered up any viable solutions to control the flow of traffic so until that day comes it's dancing cops to put a smile on your angry face.