Today’s editorial would have been about Easter. Or it could have been about the start of the local campaign season, as suggested by the editorial cartoon.
But today’s editorial is not about any of those but about a photograph appearing somewhere in this issue. The photograph is that of a lady riding at the back of a motorcycle without a helmet, but wearing a black shirt with the word “Enforcer” printed in white bold letters beneath the logo of the Land Transportation Office.
At first glance, there appears to be nothing wrong with the photo. After all, we see a lot of our countrymen wearing shirts with the words “Chairman” “Official” or some other words denoting a position of power.
But there is something different about wearing a shirt indicating that you are an LTO Enforcer, especially when you are riding a motorcycle and not wearing a helmet.
This is simply too revolting for the average Dumaguitnon, especially those who have had the unfortunate experience of getting flagged down in a checkpoint and fined P1,500 for the non-use of helmets, and made to undergo a three-hour seminar in a crowded room at the LTO.
The sight of a law enforcer intentionally violating the law sends the wrong message. Yes, there is injustice in this world — even in the small City of Dumaguete. It throws a monkey wrench into the assembly line of PNoy’s Tuwid na Daan.
The helmet law is admittedly a very unpopular law in this City of Motorcycles. But enforcing an unpopular law while violating it at the same time is a sure-fire recipe for disaster.
No, enforcers may not be subjected to public beatings but they’d soon discover their faces (or backs, as in this case) all over the social media from angry netizens. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this photo makes it all the way to Malacanan Palace.
While we’re at it, we’re not even talking about bribery, a topic which has been discussed too often among motorcycle-riding circles.
Yes, there’s a lot of house-cleaning to do over at the LTO. And their jobs would surely be easier if the people who enforce the law would be among the first to obey the law.
