Magalong on running for mayor / Pols on narco-list, cyber scams

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

We received an email from the camp of former Philippine National Police chief Benjamin Magalong on his thoughts in running for Baguio mayor this coming May elections. Here goes: 

“The city government must provide better services and a more responsive youth program that will strengthen efforts to sustain Baguio’s competence as a center of quality education.

The overall goal is for the city to produce graduates in all levels who will be well-trained for responsible citizenship, who will be morally conscious, and who will be capable for business, industry and the professions.

“We should focus on the upgrade of facilities and faculties, and the expansion of existing scholarship grants to deserving students. We should propagate the Alternative Learning System, encourage Technical and Vocational studies, and allot more scholarships for the financially challenged.

“To empower the youth, our younger generation’s development programs must strive to make our children morally responsible and better prepared for adulthood. Development should focus on leadership skills training, sports, and other diverse alternative programs. Our youth must be encouraged to participate in anti-

crime, anti-drug, and anti-juvenile delinquency activities. Facilities should be established as youth convergence centers.

“To enliven culture, arts and crafts, full government support should be extended to our partners in the arts, culture, and the creative sector befitting the city’s latest title as the only Philippine city in the elite United Nations Creative City Network. There will be constant engagement and active involvement with this sector to encourage appropriate activities meant to enliven the cultural scene and strengthen harmonizing efforts of varied indigenous and traditional cultural practices.

“Admittedly, these core-ideas are initiating principles that may well serve to generate more ideas for greater consensus

with the populace. No man or woman has exclusive monopoly of the good things to state by way of solemn covenant. Agenda preparation is always a work in progress.

“To speed up government action, services must be made accessible, available, and affordable to the people. We must do away with policies that make our people wait in long lines just to be served, or told to return in vain for follow-up. We must make our constituents feel and experience government service at its finest.”

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Magalong, although of Pangasinense ancestry, was born and raised in Baguio City. He studied in St. Louis Laboratory Elementary and High Schools before joining the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated as Magna Cum Laude in 1982.

He retired from the PNP after 38 years and eight months of active service on Dec. 15

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On national TV, President Rodrigo Duterte yet again surprised the public by revealing names of politicians on his narco-list.

The president read several names of politicians including 35 mayors, seven vice mayors, one provincial board member and three congressmen.

Some of them were elected officials and election candidates for the upcoming May midterm polls.

Duterte announced the names of politicians allegedly involved in illegal drug operations or the narco list during the Joint National Peace and Order Council – Regional Peace Order Council Clusters Meeting and Armed Forces of the Philippines – Philippine National Police command conference at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Davao City on March 14.

The President denied undermining the politicians’ bid ahead of the elections, but insisted that the list has been validated by government agents, a UNTV report said.

He added the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government already filed administrative cases against government officials on the list before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The President said the government’s Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) are both investigating the officials to build criminal cases against them.

“The results will aid us in filing airtight cases against them,” the President said.

Some cause-oriented and human rights groups said what the President did was uncalled for since the politicians alluded to being involved in drugs were not yet charged or their crime proven in court.

But then again, the firebrand president said, ‘public office is a public trust. An official’s right to privacy is not absolute and there is a compelling reason to prioritize the interest of the state and the people.”

It is not surprising anymore if the president comes up with statements on anything which presidential spokesman Sal Panelo could deftly explain -- it could be a hyperbole or the truth depending on the situation.

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Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has urged authorities to crack down on dating sites being used as platforms for “love scams” victimizing gullible Filipinos, especially on Facebook.

 “In October last year, an overseas Filipino worker lost P600,000 after falling in love with a woman using a fake FB account. That poor OFW is just one of thousands of Filipinos who fall victim to online predators who manipulate their feelings to extort money,” she said in a press statement.

“Nakakabulag kasi talaga ang pag-ibig. If someone appears too good to be true, sigurado hindi mapagkakatiwalaan yun lalo na kung ayaw makipagkita in person at video chat lang ang gusto. People should be very careful with their hard earned money and life savings dahil lamang sa mga manloloko sa pag-ibig. I am asking concerned government agencies to crack down on these scammers and dismantle their networks,” she added.

In the Philippines, at least 10 percent of internet fraud reported in 2017 fell under the love or romance scam category, according to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group.

It said love scams are not easy to solve because the victims are often willing prey. Love scams are also, legally, estafa cases, and a victim must file a case for the PNP-ACG to start an investigation. In many cases, charges have not been filed as the victims are too ashamed to admit at being lovestruck and defrauded online.

The US-based Better Business Bureau reports that cyber love scams are among the biggest cons in the United States and Canada where victims lost nearly $1billion over the last three years.

Marcos said Filipinos must be careful when contacted through newly-created accounts by persons who refuse to meet in person or prefer video chatting where they are never clearly identifiable.

“Be a smart social media user. Do not give important details such as your debit or credit card number. And don’t be afraid to come forward and file a complaint if you think you have been duped,” she said.