Justise is not sweet for tourists and you only find out if your robbed - are the police doing their job?

I have seen how police in UK and Europe, normally dig in fast if there is a crime committed by known criminals the investigation goes at full tilt especial when it comes murder, rape or robbery.

Of course when there is little evidence and none that can give proof to whom committed the crime or the actual crime was a petty one that sees no real avenue for warranting an investigation.

I have been stunned by how crimes are handled in the Philippines it would seem that burglaries of a non national even when a large amount of money is stolen. Then a witness steps forward, who in fact was part of the gang of burglars and thief confessed and named 4 other members of the criminal gang. Yes stunned at the fact that the police did not pick up the know suspects why the warrants of arrest where being processes. This case I have observed was a straight cut and dry one and 5 days have past with no arrests taking place.

It’s seemingly seems stupid that a Bank Robbery for less money than was stolen by a gang of burglar’s is given media attention and the investigation team goes in at full steam. In the case of burglary mentioned above the local police station sent out a untrained police aid to the scene of the crime. Not one fully trained policeman from the local force followed up the crime, finger print not lifted etc. T

The American victim has had to pester the local police its almost seems that a foriegner has no rights to obtain an investigation concerning any crime committed against him. That the Philippines want tourist to visit but will not be responsible for them when criminals strike. On another note when an American was falsely accused of calling all Filipino’s monkey,s  the police where very interested.

Then when a couple that where both separated from their spouses, was accused of adultury, he a british national was thrown in a rat infested jail, because he had sired a son with his Filipina partner. Her husband was after money to cancel the case it was a case of blackmail. The police of course thought it was okay to listen to the husband story and arrest the Englishman and throw him into jail like a common criminal.

However I have been told that the Police also delay arrests and work at snail pace, even when it’s a Filipino that’s robed etc. so this is not a really a racial thing, but what about the opinion of the tourist, will such thing cull the visitors visiting the Philippines.

Well if such stories where published on ex-pat web sites the answers yes. The Philippines is learning slowly its responsibilities of looking after it visiting tourist, Tourism brings much money into the Filipino economy. 

Foriegners do not ask much about their security, but do expect full investigations when they are robbed. Filipino’s must start to realize that foreigner’s do have rights here as law abiding citizen’s.

There are only three or so rights disallowed to tourist such as not being allowed to own land or apply for a gun license and of course work or run a business if not nationalized or having the correct visa. But they definatly have the right to seek justice if a crime is committed against them and the police should ensure that they provide the justice and carry out there important task in a professional manner as they should do with any filipino citizen.  

I am now wondering how many other world travelers have had a problem seeking justice here in the Philippines or elsewhere where justice treads at snail pace.