Journey into Disaster by NOKBEW™

1.06. Law is law

The interrogation of the boys in the chamber is going on.

Again that night, I rub the fatigue out of my face with both hands and bring some sweat from my forehead to my eyes. Now I see CIDG Officer Villanova blurred. I ask again, this time formally and kindly: “Sir, please, what gives you the right to knock on the cottage door and bring the children and me here? Why was I arrested?”

Probably because of my sudden kindness, Villanova looks confused and stutters: “Sir, your name is Heger?”

“That is correct!”

He explains: “Okay, just a moment, Mr. Heger. I turn on the tablet. Then I'll show you what the problem is.”

Officer Sarang and Pangutana seem satisfied. They notice that the latent aggression has disappeared.

The tablet screen glows white. Villanova is impatient, moving his thick finger over the tablet and humming: “Okay, see here, that's the problem. Here's a paragraph of Philippine law: Republic Act 7610.”

He holds the tablet very close to my nose so I can't read the text. I carefully move the tablet back and finally I take it in my hand.

Villanova moves the text up on the screen: “Read paragraph (b).”

I do what Villanova said and fly over the headline:

“Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development.” I read paragraph (b):

“(b) Any person who shall keep or have in his company a minor, twelve (12) years or under or who is ten (10) years or more his junior in any public or private place, hotel, motel, beer joint, discotheque, cabaret, pension house, sauna or massage parlor, beach and/or other tourist resort or similar places shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its maximum period and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand Pisos (P50.000): Provided, That this provision shall not apply to any person who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity or any bond recognized by law, local custom and tradition or acts in the performance of a social, moral or legal duty.”

I understand the text only in parts. What I've understood is overwhelming. How does this affect me? What are the consequences of this?

Officer Villanova is now friendly. It also seems more pleasant for him that we have found a reasonable level of communication. “Let me summarize: the children are twelve years old and under. You are not the father, stepfather, uncle, cousin or brother-in-law, or any other consanguinity? You also have no official social or legal legitimacy?”

I can't believe it and shake my head wildly. Now I understand Ma'am Papillio's and Officer Sarang's strange questions about a relationship with the children or a social mission of mine, like priests, as a coach and so on. My temperature goes up, and beads of sweat are on my forehead. My blood rises and my throat is bone dry. For seconds, I have no clear thoughts. The room turns around and wobbles slightly.

My emerging panic is apparently noticed by CIDG Officer Villanova. He instructs Officer Sarang to bring more water.

Like a pile of misery, I sit there slumped, speechless and must finally get my brain under control. I pour down the cool water and immediately feel a little better. Than I stammer hoarsely: “I didn't know that! We do not have such a law in Germany. This is a misunderstanding! I can explain that.”

Officer Villanova shakes his head. “Okay, Ma'am Papillio will discuss everything else with you. Good luck and take care of your hand.” He quickly turns around on a shoe heel, nods to the young policemen and leaves the office without a word.

This guy is quick and easy, I think while looking at the closed office door with my mouth open.

Officer Sarang suspected my thoughts: "He's just like that. Don't blame him. He has been through a lot. His wife was also a police officer. She was shot by a drug pusher. Now she is in a wheelchair.”

I don't know what to do with this information and nod cautiously. All in all, that's a bit too much, so late at night in this situation.

Ma'am Tolisan rushes out of the office, walks past me without a second glance and leaves the office.

Officer Sarang approaches: “I think there is good news for you! But Ma'am Papillio should discuss this with you. Looking at his watch, he says: “Oh my goodness, so late? Well, we'll take care of your gadgets tomorrow. I just want to ask you briefly if all the gadgets are in your backpack.” He laughs out loud: “Not that we forgot anything in the hotel.”

I don't laugh at his jokes and check the content: “I don't miss anything, sir.”

The officer takes the backpack and locks it in a cupboard in the left chamber. He grins boyishly: “Don't worry, nothing will be stolen here.”

My humor returns: “Yes, after all, we are in a police station.”

The office door slams open. But it is not Ma'am Tolisan who rushes through the room, but the little woman who knocked on the door in the hotel. Her function is still not clear to me. She now opens the door to the chamber very quickly so that the loose glass pane in the frame rattles quietly. She exchanges a few words with Ma'am Papillio.

Ma'am Papillio clearly hiss the word: “Shit!”

Frightened, the woman steps back from the chamber and breathes frantically again.

Suddenly, there is a tense tranquility in the room.

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