Duterte’s inheritance
>> Tuesday, July 19, 2016
LETTERS
FROM THE AGNO
March
Fianza
It
does not show, but the feeling and body language indicate that President
Duterte and his law enforcers are experiencing difficulties in fighting the
drug problem, especially so because those in the frontlines who are involved in
the search and arrest of drug personalities are caught between the decision to
shoot or not to shoot their subjects.
Over the weekend, news reports said that since May 10 at
least 103 alleged criminals were killed in drug operations whether on purpose
or not. The public was quite terrified that human rights advocates have blamed
outgoing President PNoy for not having a stand against the wave of killings in
the last days of his term.
What had worsened the circumstances from simple arrests
to shooting incidents was that ever since, policemen in the field had
continuously violated the rules on engagement. This alarmed local drug
personalities in the provinces who were compelled to surrender to authorities
for fear of being shot unreasonably.
In the Cordillera, at least 701 persons linked to illegal
drugs as users and small-time pushers surrendered to the police and drug
enforcement agency personnel while 22 were arrested on different occasions upon
implementation of Oplan Tokhang by the PNP. One lawyer friend said, the
situation is comparable to the Martial Law days.
Duterte’s firmness to run after those linked to the
illegal drug trade in the country was motivated even more because thousands of
youth were being victimized by the flourishing sale and distribution of
methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
This, in addition to what he knew all along about five
police generals, two of them retired, who are directly linked to big time drug
syndicates. In his speech during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air
Force last week, he named the five police generals as Joel Pagdilao, Edgardo
Tinio, Bernardo Diaz and retired generals Marcelo Garbo and Vicente Loot who is
now a town mayor in Cebu.
As President, he has access to lots of top secret information,
although he claimed that he already knew of the five generals’ involvement in
drug trade when he was still mayor of Davao. Duterte said that in the days to
come he will be announcing names of LGU officials who are corrupt,
particularly, their participation in the drug trade.
Because of sympathy for the death of ex-President Cory
and for his battle cry “kung walang korap, walang mahirap”, Noynoy
Aquino won the presidency. After all the bad experiences during the terms of
Presidents Erap Estrada and GMArroyo, people cried out for a fresh government
free from graft and corruption.
There was honesty on the part of PNoy and sincerity to
rid the government of corrupt officials, unfortunately his efforts were
obstructed by his ties with his kabarkada and kabarilan whose
caprices he was unable to turn down.
As President Duterte passes the first exciting (or
boring) week in Malacanang, we find Noynoy’s unfinished job on his back. The
traffic mess, colorum buses that Sec. Jun Abaya allowed to occupy the streets,
undelivered license plates that were already paid for by the owners of the
motor vehicles, and the MRT that kept breaking down almost daily were some of
Aquino’s problems.
Add to the above the majority of typhoon Yolanda victims
who still live in tents because donations totaling $90 billion is unaccounted;
$26 billion that was lost to smugglers, outshining the smuggling loses during
GMA, Erap and FVR; the PNP-SAF 44 massacre; and the K-12 education program that
cannot take off, among others.
By the way, PNoy has consistently blamed former President
GMA, his predecessor, for the blunders and failures of government service. It
is now his turn to be blamed. Call it Karma or poetic justice when Duterte, not
another “tuwid na daan” bet, won the presidency.
Talking about “tuwid na daan” bets in the persons
of Mar Roxas and Grace Poe, I say the duo lost their chances when they gave way
to PNoy in 2010. Regardless of the other bets, Mar could have been a better
2010 President, along with Poe as his running mate. It could have been the best
tandem ever – a story that will never be told.
Blunders and changes are the topics in barbershops and
public circles, but Duterte and Police boss Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
has never mentioned about illegal gambling, line agency directors and
government workers who frequent casinos and private monte dens, and jueteng.
I ask how can President Duterte successfully present a
government with workers who practice frugal lifestyles when there are assistant
secretaries, or executive assistants of agencies who get sick if they do not
visit the casino at least once a week, like this guy I know who brags about his
closeness with Agriculture Sec. Pinol?
***
We
now have a new Acting Police Regional Director for the Cordillera. Chief Supt.
Robert Quenery presided over the assumption of command of Chief Supt. Elmo
Francisco Oco Sarona at Camp Dangwa last week, after Chief Supt. Ulysses
Abellera, now Atty, Abellera, opted to retire from service early.
During the turn over ceremony, 10 police personnel
received the Medalya ng Papuri. The awardees were: PSupt. Joseph P. Bayongasan,
PCInsp. Radino S. Belly, PSInsp. Ham B. Banag, PSInsp. Benson B. Macli-ing,
PSInsp. James D. Acod, SPO4 Benedect S. Calado, SPO3 Jones C. Takayen, PO3
Agodian S. Laoana, PO2 Narvy K. Acosta, and PO1 Soriano K. Pablo.
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