A challenge to Guv and mayors

THE Pangasinan Police Provincial Office has completed the drug testing of its ranks. The effort was followed by Mangaldan Mayor Bonafe Parayno two weeks ago, ordering all department heads and their staff to undergo drug testing. Then Gov. Amado Espino III has said as much and said he will order provincial officials and employees to do the same, and even better – to do it twice a year.

These initiatives made for clear demonstration of a political will that we hope all mayors in Pangasinan can muster in the weeks ahead. Our people need to see our political leaders set the example.

But if towns and cities want to realize their dream to see their communities truly drug-free in months ahead, barangay kapitans should be cajoled if not ordered to take drug tests themselves. It’s no secret that the first line of criminal protection is found in the barangays, and it is there where the frontline in the war against illegal drugs can be found.

Dagupan City’s Bonuan Gueset Kapitan Rico Mejia came close to doing what could make a big difference when he organized a campaign to prod drug users (and pushers) to come forward and pledge to reform. He can take the next bigger step by requiring the entire barangay officialdom, from tanods to kagawads, including himself to be subjected to a drug test.

Let’s get to the bottom of things. It’s the only way to get things done effectively and faster. We challenge Gov. Amado Espino III and the all the mayors to demonstrate true political leadership in our war vs. illegal drugs.  Require all barangay officials to take the drug test.

Binay’s woes continue

THE presidential front-runner at the start, Jojo Binay finished a dismal fourth in the May 9 race overwhelmingly won by Rody Duterte—with Mar Roxas finishing a distant second, Grace Poe third and Miriam Santiago bringing up the rear at fifth.

Sadly, Binay’s woes continue as he now faces Sandiganbayan charges for “grave misconduct, dishonesty, gross inexcusable negligence, and graft and corrupt practices.”  That was an offshoot of the Commission on Audit’s 12-member special audit decision that found Binay as head of Makati’s procuring entity from 2007 to 2010.  As such, under his watch, Binay virtually single-handedly built the Makati Parking Building II from Phases 1-5.

In accusing Binay, the COA cited the National Statistics Office’s report that the controversial, 11-storey building, costing only P246 million, was completed at a staggering price of P2.8 billion.  Put simply, the alleged overprice—which

Binay kept dodging before the election when asked to explain—cost his devastating defeat at the polls.  What’s next for Binay, only God knows.

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