TWO WEEKS ago a friend of mine was robbed and stabbed by two criminals near his house in Quezon City at around 2 a.m. The good thing was he came out of the incident alive as the four stabs he received were superficial.
Based on his account, the robbers slowly walked away from the scene of the crime as if nothing happened. His narration led me to think that the government is just wasting its revenues on barangay tanods who are supposed to roam the streets during unholy hours to help in the maintenance of peace and order.
The presence of tanods alone could at the very least intimidate evildoers about consummating their malevolent plans. The citizens do not need an enforcer who would prefer to drink and get intoxicated by the roadside or would rather stay at home and sleep than perform security work, for which they receive emoluments, even if minimal.
***
For the past few days there had been fistfights, a bountiful exchange of cuss words, and an alleged gun-toting incident involving Faculty of Civil Law students on campus.
As a Thomasian and a law student, I feel those incidents are uncalled for. Not only are they ironic, but they are embarrassing.
It is indeed ironic that law students would not think about the implications of their actions. By exchanging blows, shouting invectives, and brandishing a firearm and cocking it to intimidate other people, they have violated the law.
Sometimes, it is just disheartening to know that some of my fellow law students behave in such a manner. I am testament to the fact that UST Law professors not only facilitate our understanding of the law, but also instill in us the proper demeanor expected of a future lawyer.
Everyone should obey the law, especially lawyers and law students who because of their educational attainment are expected to be more critical of their actions.
I just hope that there will be no more similar incidents. The law profession is already receiving much flak because of a few bad eggs and hoodlums in robes. If the country is to have a society that has respect for the rule of law, isn’t it just proper for us law students to obey the law that we are studying and will promise to uphold one day?
***
It’s election time again for next school year’s local student council and the central student council officers.
I will not keep my abhorrence of some student council officers who at their young age show signs of becoming traditional politicians. When I was a student at the Faculty of Arts and Letters from 1999-2003, I despised the candidates who won and did not make good their campaign promises. They had all the reasons why they weren’t able to live up to their promises.
Back then, I perceived the Arts and Letters student council election campaign as one big circus. I think nothing has changed with all those gimmicks that student candidates employ to catch attention. Afterwards, the winners are just there to sit on their eggs for the entire school year and wait for the next campaign period. The vicious cycle never ends.
When I was in college, the student councils I encountered were more of event organizers and nothing else. The student officers practically forgot that they were elected to advance student concerns.
Nevertheless, I always remain optimistic with every set of student council officers elected. I have always believed that they should be given the chance to prove their worth.
I just hope that the newly elected officers would offer something new for the betterment of the students and not just organize those sing-and-dance events. Other organizations will do that. The students deserve more from student government officials.
