Written by Allyssa Mae De Leon

Police Brutality. It is a fairly recent term in terms of trend, but the concept has been alive since the government. It is no surprise that there is a level of dominion that comes with immunity—that is probably the case of people working in the police force. Both locally and internationally, police brutality has been an issue that netizens are fighting to abolish. It is a terrifying yet inescapable truth that there are definitely policemen out there who intentionally victimize people through obstruction of justice or even physical abuse.

Many have tried to understand the two major arguments revolving around this problem, with the first side seeking to understand why this violence is necessary. However, it is extremely difficult to find justification as it is since no person and no situation should validate human rights validation. As it is, the target for police brutality majorly consists of the minorities from its population. Today, stories of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor still fuel the fight of African American communities in the U.S.A. The Asian community has more recently become the subject of so much hate. Here in the Philippines, the receivers of police brutality are usually those in the marginalized sector, with little chances of victory in a fight against authority. This is the very reason the police cannot be rationalized. Whenever the cause for violence seems reasonable, it is veiled by a lack of experience or history with the cruelty. In fact, the very presence of harm alone should automatically reprimand police brutality regardless of the receiver and the context.

The topic of police brutality not only calls to question the action but also the doer. Despite the many times it happened, people continue to argue that incidents are usually isolated cases. However, the abundance of occurrences and the consistency of the victim’s demographics do little to defend this claim. Regardless, some voice out that outcry against law enforcement officers should be minimized. The presence of honorable men in the task force is emphasized. But by doing this, were people missing the point?

Every struggle to uplift the minority is usually accompanied with a countermovement to advocate for the larger group. This is vividly illustrated in conversations against racism wherein the less oppressed question the attention given to the minority. In fact, Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members explicitly criticize the lack of public support for caucasians as opposed to the colored community. In the feminist movement, women and allies have popularized the phrase, “all men are trash”. Indeed, this can appear problematic at the surface level, with some defending the virtuous men they know. Once again, these people have missed the point. In order for maltreatment to happen, a lot of blind eyes need to be turned. There is a supervisor disregarding an abuse case, a co-worker enabling behavior, or a witness refusing to testify. What people fail to understand is that the conscious choice to allow crime in turn allows it to prosper as well. So, does one bad cop make an entire police station bad? Yes, they are all bad just in different ways.

Another argument is the “Defund the Police” movement. Again, a radical proposal like this has invited scrutiny. Many have cried out that the police have countless responsibilities as it is; having to resolve social issues such as drug possession, theft, domestic violence, and many more. This is exactly what the movement hopes to communicate: that police have too many on their plate that it is an option to cut corners in order to finish tasks quicker. However, the shortcuts taken were against human rights. The movement aims to defund the police not only of budget but also of duty in order to limit the scope of their authority. In doing so, tasks can not only be distributed but can also be more effectively addressed. So, is there really any cause for alarm that more specializations be opened? If this would more appropriately tackle public issues?

Around the world, police brutality occurs wherever those in power are afraid to receive the same treatment they have inflicted on the marginalized. Let us remember our kababayans who have suffered in the fight for their own basic human rights. Never forget Kian Delos Santos who aspired to become a policeman when he grew up and hoped to pass his test the following day. Never forget Winston Ragos who was already struggling to weather a nationwide lockdown. Never forget the 15-year-old kid who so bravely reported her abusers yet was met with a cruel demise shortly after. Never forget Randy Echanis who fought for his people who themselves were being unjustly eliminated. Never forget Sonya Gregorio and Frank Gregorio who should have celebrated Christmas only four days later. Never forget each and every person who deserved justice but was determined to be dismissible. And never forget that there is so much cruelty occurring which is either obscured from publicity or spoken by voices not powerful enough to be heard by our supposed leaders.

So, you may ask, is there anything we can do to stop police brutality? That is difficult to say. The answer, if there is, is definitely not a one-stop solution for a problem of such magnitude. For now, let us educate ourselves to know about all the victims who deserved better. Let us be aware of what is going on for people who need support in their fight for justice. Whether this is local or international, everyone needs to practice humanity especially during a time like now. And of course, always be vigilant. When in doubt, make sure something is keeping records of your encounters with authorities. Protect each other from your protectors.