The Philippines is a nation with laws but it is not a nation where the rule of law takes precedence. Enforcement is very selective. Here is the latest example from Cebu City.
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| https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/561348/little-cardo-dalisay-in-cebu-nabbed-accused-of-hurting-people-who-do-not-give-alms |
Harvey Cuervo, 19, dubbed as the Little Cardo Dalisay in Cebu, went viral once again. But this time, not for the right reasons.
Cuervo is now detained at the Cebu City Police Station after police arrested him on Sunday midnight, March 10, for illegal possession of firearms.
Prior to his arrest, photos of the young adult circulated on social media when reports that he allegedly hurt passengers who refused to give him money after singing and begging for alms in jeepneys surfaced.
Basak Pardo Captain Dave Tumulak said his office had received multiple complaints since the first week of March, accusing Cuervo of harming them when they did not give him money.
Some of the victims claimed they were scratched, and their feet stomped, Tumulak said.
“Mao nang pasalamat ta nahipos ra sad siya sa mga pulis,” he told CDN Digital in a phone interview.
(We are grateful that he was arrested by the police.)
The suspect, in a separate interview with reporters, claimed he decided to get a gun as ‘self-defense.’ Since his photos went viral online, he said he began fearing for his life.
The barangay chief also confirmed that Cuervo was the kid who went viral in 2018, earning the nickname ‘Little Cardo Dalisay in Cebu’ when videos of his singing skills inside a jeepney circulated on social media.
Aside from illegal possession of firearms, Cuervo might also face cases for violating the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Law, and for committing slight physical injuries and threats to passengers, Tumulak said.
Officials initially planned to lodge these charges against the suspect before his arrest last Saturday but dropped them after he issued a public apology, through a pre-recorded video, on the internet last March 6.
He also vowed not to hurt passengers anymore.
But just a day after his apology video was published, Tumulak received another series of complaints, alleging that Cuervo broke his promise by hurting jeepney passengers again.
“This time, mu-file na sad mi og separate case against niya,” Tumulak added.
(This time, we will file a separate case against them.)
In the meantime, the village chieftain urged individuals, who were victimized by Cuervo to come forward so they could build their case against him.
“Pwede ra sila mureach out sa akoa sa Facebook,” said Tumulak.
(They can reach out to me in Facebook.)
He also told the riding public to be always vigilant of their surroundings, and for barangay tanods (village peacekeepers in English) to strengthen their monitoring in areas frequented by beggars.
A 19 year old street beggar who has been begging at least since he was 13 has been arrested for harming people who did not give him money. Complains were lodged to the police and they were prepared to arrest him. But he issued a public apology so they decided to forgive him. Isn't that so gracious and lovely of the police? Just look how repentant and sorry he is:
Unsurprisingly he not only broke his promise but he also procured a gun for his own protection after his face was blasted all over social media. How exactly was he able to obtain a gun when he begs for his living?
Because he started harming people again city officials decided that now they would finally arrest him and charge him with a crime. But they need the public's help. They need victims to come forward so they can build a case. Why would the public come forward now when they were ignored in the first place? What good is having a police force or a local government who REFUSE to enforce the laws?
That includes the anti-mendicancy laws. In the Philippines it is illegal to beg and illegal to give to beggars. Yet this man has been on the street since at least 2018, for SIX YEARS!! Everyone thought he was cute as a 13 year old singing and dancing for change but now he is a grown man with a grudge and a gun. How long before he causes real and lasting harm to someone? And all because the laws in the Philippines are not enforced.
The Cebu City officials who declined to prosecute this man because he posted an apology on Facebook are a danger to society. They have shown that they are untrustworthy people who do not care about protecting the community. They need to be removed from office and replaced with people who will protect the community from criminals who do harm to law abiding citizens.
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