BULL’S HIT

Rascal/s discrediting new city fire chief
RUDY GARCIA

BAGUIO CITY -- To lighten this week’s column, let me commend the Baguio police SWAT and Compac IV of Station 7 for their fast and impressive response on a call of an alleged person with a cocked gun entering a bar and billiard joint along Upper Mabini St. in Baguio.

Upon receipt of the report, the joint operatives immediately proceeded and deployed in the area, conducted operation kapkap and searched the area. While there was no deadly weapon found or recovered, even if the call was a hoax or not, this showed police of Station 7 are reliable and ready for assistance in times like this, hence they deserve the apt tag as Baguio ’s Finest.

Again, my warm salute to the police officers at BCPO, SWAT and Compac IV or Station. Keep up the good work and may your tribe increase! ***
It was early morning of June 18 which I thought was just an ordinary morning normal routine. I was totally roused from sleep when I saw the news on TV that Ces Drilon and company who were held captive for nine days in Sulu were released by their kidnappers.

I made sure if this was real or not so, I glued myself to the boob tube to know the real score. I was too happy that a colleague and her companions were released allegedly without conditions. Accordingly, no ransom was reportedly paid for their release.
At any rate, it is now the authorities who should show no-nonsense business in going after the kidnappers the soonest. They should exert efforts and mobilize their intelligence networks and all resources to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
***
On the other hand it was a disgust to note that some were blaming Sen. Loren Legarda of early political campaigning. Maybe they were just overwhelmed by the release of a colleague they did not care to hear the entire story. Surely, it was unfair for the good senator to be accused of using this kidnap for ransom issue as her political propaganda when no other than Ces Drilon admitted she was the one who sought the help of Legarda.

I guess no one would ever dare put his or her life in danger to advance political career. Imagine, the lady senator bravely went to the territory of the kidnappers and had the harrowing experience of being treated as a prisoner with both her hands tied at the back by the kidnappers? Well, these kidnappers are not just ordinary criminals but are identified as Abu Sayyaf members who used to behead their captives and Legarda would not have gone to their lair if not for her voluntary will to help Drilon and company.

In fairness, Legarda deserves a warm salute for her heroic act. Nonetheless, we should allbe happy for the release of Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Professor Octavio, Dinampo and Angelo Villarama. Cheers! ***
The tug-of-war between the Cordillera regional departments of Transportation and Communications and Public Works and Highways continues to brew with DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane supporting the position of the local DPWH in their stand that their office has the sole authority to decide whether the long stretch of Kennon Road, would be passable or not.

But DOTC regional director Federico Mandapat stood pat on his directive not to allow vans for hire, heavy equipment vehicles, trucks and other vehicles to pass along Kennon Road after confirming that the road was dangerous because of its unstable or unsafe geographical status.

According to him, it was not the road that was the foremost issue for him but the safety and protection of the passing public the reason why he ordered vehicles to pass through the Marcos Highway which is a road project of DPWH as alternative route.

Maybe Mandapat should talk to the bigwigs of the DPWH and offer an agreement that he will allow all vehicles to pass through Kennon as long as the DPWH will certify that they would be responsible for any untoward incidents that may happen to the passing public. Ano sey ninyo DOTC at DPWH, deal or no deal? ***
I wonder of there is a demolition job against the new fire marshall of the Baguio fire department. Earlier I received a report from my bubwit that many were complaining particularly those processing their business permits. According to my bubwit, he received complaints that business permits are sleeping and pending long at the office of the fire marshall because the fire chief is alleged to have been always out from his office.

I personally verified and checked this matter and found out that the reports and complaints were all false. The new fire chief has always been in his office the whole day from early morning till 5 p.m. In fact Maj. Juanito Palaroan the new Baguio fire department chief lives a simple life. He doesn’t have a car. He walks or commutes to and from his office. You could even have the false notion that he is a construction worker if you met him in person if he is not wearing his uniform. But most of all, he is against any form of graft and corruption and is now trying to form his department as a graft and corrupt free department.

This could be one reason that somebody or other people out there out therare trying to discredit the good new Baguio fire chief. Wala nga naman na silang diskarte kaya gustong siraan itong si Palaroan. Hoy, magbago na kayo!