Revoke resto permit for dumping human waste beside school / PNP resignations

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – It seems the City Environment and Parks Management Office is taking its own sweet time to address the problem of Lucnab residents here about a restaurant at Barangay Outlook Drive, which had been dumping human waste from their septic tanks through a pipeline they installed and discharging the waste at a government forest reservation beside a school below at Purok 4, Lucnab around 200 meters below said restaurant.
    The foul odor was strong at the school compound Friday even as classes had started. Staff, teachers and students said the smell was unbearable reaching high heavens especially when the restaurant released their sewer line valves.
    The Disciples for Christ Independent School located in Lucnab sent a complaint letter dated Jan. 3 addressed to lawyer Renan G. Diwas, chief of CEPMPO, but at press time, the matter has not been acted upon.
    “We would like to bring to your attention and your Good Office this urgent matter of the Lemon and Olives Greek Taverna Restaurant located at 26, Outlook Drive, Baguio City which had been dumping their human waste until now, from their septic tanks through a pipeline they have installed and discharging the waste very near our school below at Purok 4, Barangay Lucnab below the said restaurant, said the letter signed by Rev. Regino M. Valdez, DFCIS board president.
    “The seepage smell is so stinky that our staff had to transfer to another building below the area to work. Teachers could barely concentrate in teaching as a result, while the schoolchildren and staff have been complaining. The seepage is flowing down the canal which is also affecting residents and farmers below our school. We have footages of the pipeline up to the said restaurant for your perusal.
    Maybe, it has to take Mayor Benjamin Magalong to tell the CEPMO and other concerned departments to act on the matter immediately as it needs to be urgently addressed.
    The restaurant’s business permit should also be revoked.
    Concerned CEPMO bigshots, it seems, should be required to sit near the sewerage pipeline at least for a day to prod them to do their job.
    Health authorities should also check the area and make the necessary action from their end to abate the “torture” folks there have to endure as a result of government inaction.     
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Political pundits are now abuzz with comments after Dept. of Interior and Local Government Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday told ranking officials of the Philippine National Police, particularly colonels and generalsto submit their courtesy resignation to “cleanse the institution of those linked to illegal drugs.”
    Abalos said the move was recommended by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. himself after Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa confirmed the presence of “ninja cops” in the police force.
    “After several months of study, it appears we have a big problem in the police force that there are still generals and colonels linked to drugs. All full colonels to generals,” Abalos said.
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“We are appealing, the word is appeal. I am appealing for them to submit a courtesy resignation. We got a list and for us this is upon the recommendation of our chief PNP and other hierarchy of the PNP. This is the only way to cleanse the ranks fast,” he added.
    While the DILG secretary did not mention any deadline for the courtesy resignations, he said a five-member committee will carefully look into records of the ranking PNP officials and come up with a recommendation to clear them or dismiss them from the service.
    Abalos also vouched for the integrity of the identities of committee members.
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The DILG chief clarified the courtesy resignation was an appeal devoid of any directive which is similar to what was done during the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos under different circumstances.
    “It’s a very radical approach but I know we will succeed. I repeat to our colleagues, don’t worry. For the meantime, the service will continue and don’t worry, if they are clean there is no problem,” Abalos said.
    “What we swore to our law when we took our oath of office as public officials in accordance with the Constitution. Remember this is to serve the nation,” he added.
    While admitting that the measure is a shortcut to the usual process, Abalos explained that resorting to legal remedies would entail a longer time frame even if the culprits are already pinpointed.
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Meantime, PNP public information office chief Col. Redrico Maranan said they are supportive of the DILG chief’s move.
    “We in the national police will follow and comply with whatever decision of our political leaders. We know that their decision will be beneficial for the organization and the country,” Maranan said.
    The recent DILG move may have been spurred by the arrest of Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. — a member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group’s Special Operations Unit in the National Capital Region — in October last year during sting operations in Quiapo, Manila.
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Some political commentators are now saying the “appeal” for resignation of PNP officers was a move of the present administration so it could place PNP officers “loyal” to Malacanang.
    This, they say, is a strategy for the next local and national elections.
    Others are of the opinion that the move should be taken at face value in the fight against illegal drugs and crime.  
    They say it should actually been done earlier during the Duterte or other administrations as the drug cartel has reached alarming proportions involving high officials in government particularly the police.
    To date, Gen. Azurin has led the courtesy resignations with around 1,000 PNP top brass.
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The choice of the administration on who will replace those who resigned is a matter of interest considering some are still holding on to their posts saying they were never accused or convicted of crimes.