# data[].attributes.body
The police force is often described as the protector of the masses—upholding their oath “To serve and to protect”. However, over the past few years, the number of cases involving police brutality has increased dramatically—not only in the Philippines but all around the globe. The controversial Minneapolis cop ignoring “I can’t breathe” claims from the subdued and the violence that took over the Hong Kong protests are the best examples.

In the Philippines alone, police brutality cases have ballooned and one seemingly-enabling factor is the higher authorities protecting them. If this continues, to whom can we call for help? What is the purpose of having police officers whom we cannot trust?

The “War on Drugs” sounded amazing when we first heard it from the President Rodrigo Duterte, but little did we know this war is going to be a bloodbath. Upon his inauguration, he urged the police to “go ahead and kill them [suspected drug addicts] yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful.” Several more speeches followed up this sentiment and kept reassuring the cops as if they are only doing the country a favor.
These words are now razing the whole Philippine National Police (PNP). Since Duterte has taken office, the number of killings related to drugs was over 29,000, according to an interview with PNP Spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac last Feb 4. The numbers drew the world’s attention that even the United Nations Human Rights Council wanted to conduct their own investigation regarding the “War on Drugs.”

It only worsens by the day. Cops are further linked with rape, murder, and illegal detention cases.
Last July 2, a 15-year-old girl was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle on her way home after she followed up on the rape complaint she filed against the two officers namely; Police Staff Sergeants Randy Ramos and Marawi Torda. According to the complaint, the minor and her 18-year-old cousin were raped while they were in custody after being arrested for a curfew violation due to attending a birthday party.

Last April 27, 2017, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) conducted an unannounced jail visit in Police Station 1 in Tondo, Manila and discovered a secret cell behind a bookshelf where 12 men and women are illegally detained. The cell was just five-feet wide and poorly ventilated—detainees claimed they defecate and urinate in the same room. Surprisingly, the detainees were already locked up without their documents “processed” yet, and when the CHR attempted to rescue them, Manila Police Department processed their documents overnight to keep their custody.

The case of Winston Ragos, an ex-soldier who was shot dead by cops as they were enforcing quarantine rules, also reeks of impunity. According to National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) conclusion on their investigation, Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr murdered and planted evidence so as to make it look Ragos was fighting back.

The most recent, and perhaps, infamous case of Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca who fatally shot a woman and her son in Paniqui,Tarlac, was just a day before Christmas. Caught in a video that went viral and triggered netizens’ outrage, Nuezca shot Sonya (52) and Frank Gregorio (25) at point blank after a commotion broke out involving the firing of an improvised bamboo air cannon locally known as “boga”. Soon after just before fleeing, Nuezca fired the mother another shot in the head even when she was already on the ground. Nuezca is no rookie to administrative cases—he had two grave misconduct cases filed against him on 2016 and 2019 but both were dismissed. Recently, he pleaded “not guilty” even with the video catching him red-handed.

These cases of unlawful killing are plaguing our country. These documented and recorded cases are only the tip of the iceberg—what about the unseen/unreported cases of violence? If these cops caught red-handed are left off the hook, what guarantees us from abuse and injustice? Just as how “one bad apple spoils the whole barrel,” these bad cops have tainted the good name of PNP. While we still have them wandering, public trust towards the police will only continue to drop. Voicing out, demanding accountability and seeking justice seem to be the best way to regain the public trust in the name of the good and serving cops.

# data[].attributes.body
The COVID-19 pandemic is probably still one of the biggest challenges this generation have faced so far. In a blink of an eye, we’re deprived of the freedom we once enjoyed. Not because of conflict or anything violent, but because of the constant fear of getting infected by a deadly virus.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) along with the
Government, decided to put every Filipino in quarantine to lessen the virus transmission. Business establishments were forced to close down while classes all over the country was halted to protect everyone from the risk. But everyone was caught off guard that this move will put most people’s—if not everyone’s—mental health at risk. Surely, this move tested how resilient and how tenacious Filipinos are.

Last April 1, a video of a man trying to jump off Abacan Bridge circulated on Facebook. According to the uploader, the man was troubled by the fact that he can’t provide food for his family.

On June 18, an 80-year-old man ended his life when he was tested CoViD-19 positive. The hospital staff found his body hanging by a pulse oximeter wire tied on the handle of the hospital closet that night.

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, several schools and universities struggled to find a way to cater their students’ drive for learning and how to make sure that the year would not be wasted. From there, varied modes of learning arose. A few weeks after the resumption of classes, we’ve seen differing opinions of students and their different takes with these new modes of learning. The problems varied from technical stuff to dwindling emotional and mental health. Light as they may be on their own but when these piles up, they can possibly trigger a student to make abrupt decisions—succumbing to pressure and disappointment coupled with other problems. Then again, if anxiety can take the life of an adult, are the young ones really safe?

Last October 6, a grade 11 boy from Tupi, South Cotabato decided to end his suffering after being reportedly “having a hard time catching up with modular learning.” Several students voiced out their sentiments on how difficult this new way of learning is for them, not only because of how heavy the work load is but also because of all the pressure and stress they were facing.

A multitude of studies were made by known institutions to assess whether the pandemic has negative effects on the stress level of students, and not any of them says otherwise.

In an article from Science Daily published in the “Journal of Medical Internet Research” says that stress levels of students “remained consistently higher than similar periods during the previous academic terms.”

On top of that. Indigent students are forced to drop and skip this academic year because they lack the resources and the means to cope with this new mode of learning. For them, trying to survive one day at a time is already nerve-wracking.

We can help alleviate the situation if we are going to be more considerate and be mindful of the mental health of every student. Some institutions have “Kamustahan” sessions during the first few minutes of their classes in order to check in on their students’ mental health. While not all students are open to sharing what they really feel or are going through, it is still a highly commendable fix as the students are given avenues to express their thoughts. Keeping our ears peeled instead of dismissing and invalidating their efforts would make a huge difference.

It is during this time when we are at our most vulnerable stage—students and faculty alike. While we may understand how they feel, we don’t really feel what they feel. Everyone is fighting their own battles now, and if you finished your fights earlier than they do, let us not be nuisances; instead, let us empower them and cheer them on.

This is the time for us to check on our loved ones. Let us be a shoulder that they can lean on and let us not put more pressure to them. Remember that words are powerful and they can make or break someone. Just like how some people can go on and walk for more than two kilometers straight while others prefer to take a ride instead. We all have varying emotional capacity. What may not be a “big deal” for you might actually be enough to bring others to their knees.

We may all be experiencing the same ocean, but some live on yachts and can swim, while others could barely keep their boats afloat and struggling to keep their heads above water.

# data[].attributes.headline
Your content is very informational :))  

# data[].attributes.subject
Your content is very informational :))  

# data[].attributes.body
You have so much potential in writing. I know you will become a great writer.

# data[].attributes.body
Very informative & interesting. 😊

# data[].attributes.body
Wow! You're content is so good!