IT’S nice to know that everything is being done by Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Alex Gutierrez to identify with certainty those behind the two separate incidents of shooting deaths during the early hours of the New Year. 

I learned that he summoned all concerned police officers yesterday to a meeting to coordinate efforts toward bringing the perpetrators before the bar of justice.                                                                                          

Mabuti na lamang at, so far, mukhang hindi naman pala pulis-Maynila ang mga suspects sa dalawang insidenteng ito.

The meeting called for by Gutierrez was attended by Scene of the Crime Operatives or SOCO, Homicide chief Maj. Joey de Ocampo, District Investigation Detection Management chief Col. Francisco Gabriel, Station 11 chief Col. Ferdinand Quirante and Station 6 chief Col. Remigio Sedanto, among others.              

Gutierrez said the purpose of the meeting is to positively identify and punish those who are responsible for illegally discharging their firearms as a way of welcoming the New Year.        

An inventory of all police personnel living near the vicinity where the deaths happened was also ordered by him so that the personnel concerned may be made to undergo paraffin and ballistics tests to determine if any of them was liable for the crime.                                                                       

In his own words, Gutierrez said, “Tuluy-tuloy ang imbestigasyon namin dito at hindi tayo titigil hanggang hindi napapanagot ang may kasalanan.”                                    

Gutierrez is one police officer who really has a big heart. Tao din siya na nababagabag especially since the victims of the stray bullets fired by trigger-happy law violators are an 88-year-old woman and a seven-year-old girl.

’Yung lola was just walking home somewhere along Pasig Line in Sta. Ana when she chanced upon a group of minors engaging in a gangwar and was caught in a crossfire. ’Yung bata naman, tahimik na nanonood ng fireworks sa Penarubias Street sa Binondo habang nakaupo sa bangketa nang tamaan ng bala sa leeg.     

The effort also goes to show that Gutierrez is one police official who would not let a crime go unpunished, unlike many I know. No wonder the crime statistics in the city has continuously dropped since he assumed the position just several months back.

Truly, he deserves to head the country’s premier police force not only for his genuine concern for crime victims falling under his jurisdiction but for being a true-blue Manila police officer who has risen from the ranks.

Gutierrez also showed utmost humility because when I asked him what positions he has held before becoming the MPD top honcho, he politely declined dahil nakakahiya naman daw kung ikukuwento pa niya.

So, I turned to the equally efficient and kind-hearted Boy Reyes, special assistant to the MPD district director, who said that among the many sensitive posts once held by Gutierrez were the following: head of the criminal investigation service to becoming an official of the Manila police as chief of the Special Weapons and Tactics team; detachment commander of Barbosa; station commander of then WPD stations  3, 6, 9, 5, 2  and 3; chief of police in Pasay City; provincial director in Mindoro; Regional director of CIDG Region 5; head of the DILG-Task Force JERICHO; chief of the Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force; chief of the PTCFOR (permit to carry firearms outside residence) secretariat; chief of the Regional Police Intelligence Operation Unit-NCRPO; chief of the District Special Project Unit; chief of District Directorial Staff, MPD and then Deputy Distict Director for Administration also of the MPD, before becoming its director. Whew! And these are only as far as Boy’s memory goes…

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Jokjok (from Joey Avanzado of Taguig) -- Husband: My dear wife, what are you doing inside the CR? You’ve been there for so long./Wife: I’m dyeing./Husband (jumps with joy and then fakes a sob):Oh my God! How can I live without you?/Wife: You idiot! I’m dyeing my hair!

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