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San Juan Police
The Peace Makers
San Juan Police have a new weapon against crime, and it comes courtesy of the Aftermarket Mafia. Drew Asuncion investigates
Photography by Ocs Alvarez
Most of us old enough to shave in the '80s will remember the Greenhills Shopping Complex in San Juan as the Mecca for all things motor-related. It was where you went to show off your new ride, or to check out the latest advances in magnesium racing wheels, twin-side Weber or Mikuni carburetor setups, or home-made 'putol' lowering springs. It was also part of such legendary motorsport events as the Ortigas Rally. But it was a known, though understandably unadvertised, fact that Ortigas Avenue, which runs in front of Greenhills, was the number one track for illegal drag racing. The police, with their limited budgets and decades-old machinery, simply could not keep up with these street thugs.
Of course, that's all in the past now, what with the constant traffic on Ortigas Avenue and the emergence of new, more accessible and 'tolerant' places for car lovers to hang out in. But lately, there has been an automotive renaissance in San Juan, and interestingly enough, it's being spearheaded by the one group we least expected to be into fast, flashy cars: the San Juan Police Department.
It all started from an innocent little e-mail. More precisely, an innocent little e-mail poking fun at our local police cars. You may remember this particular e-mail, a sort of comparison of police vehicles the world over. There was an Italian carabinieri Lambo Diablo, an American police Dodge Viper, and even a Japanese Skyline chase car. Of course, some Pinoy wise-ass just had to tack on our own contribution—a circa-'70s rust bucket up on blocks.
"D'un talaga kami nainis," says San Juan Police Superintendent and SWAT Chief Colonel Rogelio Jocson. "Sabi ko, bakit naman ganyan, ang pangit ng image ng Pilipinong pulis. So ayan, heto ang resulta."
The result Col. Jocson is talking about is a Toyota Corolla Altis. Big deal, you may say— the Altis is as common as corrupt cops. Well, you might want to take back your hasty words, because this particular Altis has been maxed out, courtesy of the Philippines' premier purveyors of all things auto-erotic (and erstwhile San Juan residents), the Aftermarket Mafia. And the
San Juan SWAT force didn't even have to bend arms to get it done.
"We actually wanted to do their Toyota Hilux as our entry for the last Sport Truck and Custom Car Show," explains Mafia Godfather Sammy Liuson. "But it didn't arrive in time, so talk turned to their old Altis. At the time, mas lamog pa siya sa taxi. But we do have a lot of items for the Altis, so with Mayor JV Ejercito's blessing, we decided to collaborate with the San Juan Police Department on it."
And the results do speak for themselves. A custom A-Toy body kit ups the sex appeal of the plain-jane Altis, working perfectly with the black-and-white police-themed paint job also executed by Atoy Llave's firm.
White Concept One wheels, coming in at a sizeable 17 inches ("We were originally considering 15s, but when we put them on, pangit talaga yung dating") and equipped with rally-style rim bead protectors, are wrapped with 45-series Nitto performance tires.
The stock H4 halogen lights have been replaced with a Xenon-Bulb high intensity discharge (HID) system, and H&R lowering springs and Bilstein performance struts are on the way as well. And in case criminal elements think this car is all show and no go, a nitrous oxide system has been installed courtesy of Nitrous Express.
The Altis is certainly a far cry from what it was before, as evinced by our jaws dropping as it rolls into the SJPD headquarters' driveway. The effect is helped along by the escorting Innova and Hilux, in matching colors, and by the eight men all dressed in SWAT-issue black, fit as hell and carrying a stunning assortment of bad guy-foiling equipment.
"Malakas talaga ang suporta sa amin ng butihin naming mayor," says Col. Jocson, "kaya mataas din naman ang morale naming lahat."
The tricked-out, highly capable Altis has also helped greatly in earning the respect and admiration of the local citizenry. Col. Jocson exults, "Dati, parang takot o masama ang tingin ng tao sa patrol namin. Ngayon, nakakatanggap kami ng mga thumbs-up galing sa mga residents. Sinasabihan kami, 'Sir, pang-mayaman yang patrol car niyo a!' Minsan, may mga nagpapa-picture pang mga tourists sa Altis!"
In fact, the good officers of the San Juan police are falling over themselves to go on patrol, a far cry from the usual apathetic attitude of some law enforcers.
This particular Pinoy super-cop car has certainly had a huge positive effect on the psyche of San Juan police and residents. But do the members of the Aftermarket Mafia think that the P300,000-plus price tag of the mods is worth it? Sammy says it is.
He explains: "First of all, San Juan is like a big community. Practically everyone knows everyone, so it only makes sense that we want to help our neighbors, particularly the police. Also, if you think about it, every aftermarket car company in the Philippines and elsewhere has done the whole The Fast and the Furious thing to death, iba-iba lang ang designs. If you really want to be different, do a cop car! And we're really looking forward to working on the SJPD's Toyota Hilux for the next Sport Truck and Custom Car Show as well."
Col. Jocson hopes that this civic-minded idea will spread to other municipalities: "Sana may mga mababait din na negosyanteng katulad nina Sammy na tutulong din sa kanilang police department. Malay mo, baka magkaroon na ng competition na pagandahan ng police vehicles!"
And as an exclamation point to the story of this wicked police car, Col. Jocson says, "Pinalitan na namin yung picture ng Filipino police car d'un sa e-mail. Nilagay na namin yung Altis para maibalik naman ang pride natin nang konti. Proudly Philippine-made 'yun!"
So if you're planning to pull something shady in San Juan, think again. The Aftermarket Mafia and the police are working together in this place, and they're turning Greenhills into a safer, more secure, and definitely way cooler scene to flaunt your ride once again.
Perhaps more important, car-chase incidents in San Juan will be worthy of the silver screen.
Click on the thumbnails to view larger image
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Top Gear Philippines - March 2007
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