Damn police!!!

Last Saturday, I got into a scary but infuriating encounter with the local police. I was driving along CP Garcia Avenue in UP in the middle of the Christmas rush on my way to the mall to do some last minute shopping. There was a bit of traffic in that two-lane street and I was traveling at around 30 kph. All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, a white Fierra truck (not sure exactly what that vehicle is called) swerved from behind. It almost hit the right side of my car! I stepped on the break and put my hand to beep the horn at the stupid driver. The vehicle overtook me and blocked me at the front. I thought it was over so I tried to calm down.

Then I noticed that the Fierra truck slowed down in front of me. It was then that I saw the paint around the vehicle that said “PULIS”. My heart raced. I tried to take a look at the driver from his left side mirror. He was looking at me with ridiculously taunting eyes! I realized he was blocking me so that I couldn’t pass. The cars behind me were already beeping their horns. I didn’t know what else to do but try to overtake through the shoulder of the road. But when I finally did, the police vehicle raced after me and tried to hit me a second time! I was horrified! I looked at them from behind. The policeman driving was asking me to pull over. There was at least one other guy in his police vehicle. I thought about it for a second. If I didn’t pull over, I was sure they would still run after me anyway. And I might be charged for disobeying authority. I was alone and scared. So I parked my car on the shoulder. But I didn’t step out nor open my window.

I called my dad on the cellphone in panic as I had no idea what was going on and I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to do! The situation was so surreal, I had a feeling something was really wrong. The police driver walked toward my car and knocked on my window. On the phone my dad was telling me not to go down the car. I opened my window only enough to talk to the guy. In calm English, he was asking my why I was swerving. I was like “what???!!!”. I couldn’t help talking in an angry tone. “Boss, anong ginawa ko? Muntik nyo na akong banggain!” He replied, “Give me your license!” Of course I said I won’t give my license! He was not authorized to take it. He wasn’t a traffic enforcer! After a quick debate, and trying to make him speak to my dad on the phone, I finally gave in and handed him my license. He want back to his vehicle. God knows what he planned to do with it!

Good thing a friend was driving by and saw me. She went down with her husband and came to my rescue. While I was explaining to them what happened, the police came back. My friends tried to calm him down apologizing for my behavior! In my mind I wanted to argue that I didn’t do anything wrong! But my friend was quietly signaling to me that I just keep quiet. So I did. Except that I was forced to apologize to the crazy police just to get my license back. When he left, I broke down. My friends told me they sensed the guy was drunk. Kaya pala!!! Pambihira! A vendor from the side of the street went up to us to say that what the police did was illegal. He had no business harassing me since he was just a UP Police and was probably not even on duty!!! Grabe! I drove home trembling in shock and anger. Never felt so scared in my entire life.

Until now I don’t know what to do. I was too disoriented to get the name of the policeman or the plate number of his vehicle. I’ve no way of tracking him down and getting my revenge. I’m resigned to the fact that I may not be able to do anything at this point anymore, no matter how much I want to put that guy in his proper place. Bahala na lang ang Diyos sa kanya! After all, pulis lang sya at hindi na aasenso ang buhay nya kung magpapatuloy sya sa walang kwentang pamumuhay nya… GRRRR!!!