A list long overdue

 

IT’S not in the hands yet of Governor Amado Espino Jr., but finally there is already supposed to be a list of nominees for the position of provincial police chief.

Soon, hopefully, the dragging controversy over the designation of Senior Supt. Marlou Chan as Pangasinan Police Director can be put to rest. While Chan – first as an officer-in-charge, then permanently appointed, later relieved and ready for turnover, and now serving on some kind of standby status — has performed creditably, the appointment of a permanent PD is long overdue. Chan will likely be the first to breathe a sigh of relief when his replacement is finally chosen.

In the selection process this time, it would serve the Philippine National Police and the provincial government well to strictly observe established policies and procedures. A legal battle, such as what has come out of Chan’s case, does not serve the province any good even if the provincial government was justified in asserting what is prescribed by the law. The furor created by Chan’s appointment should not ever be repeated to prevent a possible protracted conflict in policies in the maintenance of peace and order. Fortunately, except for the filing of court cases, the divisive designation of Chan did not result in dismal police performance across the province. In that respect, the police demonstrated true professionalism. Considering that the controversy took place in the midst of an election season, things could have been much worse.

There will surely be no sad goodbyes between Chan and Espino together with most of the provincial government. But everyone can finally move on. And programs for the province, particularly those requiring close cooperation between the local government and the police force such as the fight against illegal drugs, could be pursued without bad blood in the air.

 

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Shape up

 

WHY Congress continues to debate on whether or not to probe the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam boggles the mind. It should have been initiated without delay the minute it hit newspaper headlines. In the first place, people’s money had been reportedly stolen again. In the second place, big-time politicians had been dragged into the case.

Isn’t it the primordial duty of every politician to immediately author an investigation once his name is linked to an alleged scandal, if only to impress upon the public that he is clean?

So what if representatives and senators themselves will probe a scam that has allegedly implicated their colleagues? The more reason they should, if only to cleanse, if not exorcise, their own ranks of rotten eggs – if not demons disguised as saints.

And, yes, aren’t the Ethics Committees in both the lower and upper chambers there to investigate perceived unethical practices of House members?

Likewise, aren’t Congress probes held in aid of legislation? The latest scam is crying out for new laws to curb future scams of this nature.

At this stage, whether they decide to do it themselves or allow the Department of Justice or Ombudsman to investigate, they should bite the bullet and decide fast.

Shape up, your honors, or get yourselves shipped out, instead.

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