Punchline
Not a smiling matter
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
JUST as we feared, what happened would happen again.
Soon after the shotguns were indiscriminately issued to barangay chairmen in the province, a number of kapitans became ‘power-charged’ and careless that led to incidents of violence.
This time, another hotheaded barangay kapitan used his Capitol-issued shotgun to harass and intimidate those who crossed him. It didn’t even matter to this kapitan from Labrador that he would use it illegally in a court of justice hall ‘s premises.
While a complaint for assault, direct assault and illegal possession of firearm was promptly filed against the erring kapitan, Smiley PD Barba, who appeared not too concerned about the incident viewing it as an isolated case, seems to have conveniently forgotten one thing – to file an administrative case against the chief of police of Labrador for failing to supervise the proper use and safekeeping of the shotguns issued to the barangay chairmen in the town.
This certainly cannot be a smiling matter for Mr. Barba.
* * * * *
Wasn’t it Mr. Barba who set the policy that all town police chiefs are responsible for the supervision of the kapitans over the safekeeping and use of the shotguns? By not taking the Labrador police chief to task, is he saying now that it’s the mayor and the governor who were remiss in their duties? Or did Mr. Barba merely announce the policy as a PR gimmick to placate detractors of the shotgun project? Careful, Mr. Barba, we take your pronouncements seriously.
At any rate, the recent incident clearly proved one thing: the police chiefs, contrary to Mr. Barba’s and Guv Spines’ assertion, are not in a position to supervise the kapitans and oversee the safekeeping and use of the issued shotguns unless these are physically lodged in the police stations.
And if Guv Spines maintains that his role in it was merely to direct the purchase of the shotguns and that it’s the police that should take responsibility, then he, at the very least, should admonish and reprimand the provincial police chief for failing in his job to oversee the safekeeping of the shotguns. But he has not, hence, his claim is suspect.
Again, I reiterate this friendly reminder to Guv Spines – Unless he directs the kapitans to immediately turn over the shotguns to the police stations for safekeeping, and with the election campaign just around the corner, he can expect more irresponsible, if not violent consequences involving the kapitans and their shotguns. But like he needs a hole in his head, there will be nobody but he who will forever be blamed.
Sure, the Guv can always pin the blame on Mr. Barba, he who has no political accountability and yet evidently cannot closely supervise the chiefs under him where the shotgun project is concerned, but nothing will ever stop his detractors from pointing at him as the responsible official who created the monster – a macho trigger-happy kapitan!
And, guess who’s closely watching from the sidelines, huh, Guv?
* * * * *
UNFINISHED POLICE BUSINESS. Here’s still another unfinished business for the Pangasinan police.
The guns-for-hire continue to operate in the province with impunity, who certainly have no fear of the province’s cops. While The PUNCH has no love for homicide and murder stories in its pages, it is now deliberately plugging it in to make the citizenry well aware of the continued presence of the various groups, and to remind the provincial police of their continued failure to stop them.
The rash of killings by motorcycle-riding assassins over the past weeks repudiates the provincial police’s claim of a “successful” campaign in the recently terminated gun amnesty program. And until the police succeed in collaring these assassins who kill for a measly P20,000, not even the gun ban now in place gives an assurance that Pangasinenses, whether they are politicians, businessmen, journalists, teachers or government employees can feel safe in their homes and places of work.
It bothers many that Guv Spines and members of the provincial board still have not raised their voices high enough to demand action with results from our provincial police.
Another related unsolved killing that the Dagupan police have to account for was the unsolved shooting of Zharlene Yadao, daughter of local broadcaster Susan Yadao. It appears that the police are merely waiting for witnesses to come forward instead of actively pursuing leads that could point to witnesses to help establish the identity of the criminal.
Bottomline for the police is unsolved killings means inefficient and incompetent leadership.
* * * * *
DAGUPEÑO AT THE HELM. Not too many know that the new secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Sec. Eli Quinto, is a pure-bred Dagupeño!
His origins are well known to constituents in the 4th district since he had made the rounds earlier when he planned on entering the congressional derby this year. He later prudently backed out and stayed on to complete the unfinished work of his erstwhile boss Sec. Lito Atienza who resigned to start his campaign to reclaim his post in Manila City.
So between him, Cabinet Secretaries Pingkoy Duque, Peter Favila, Arthur Yap, Hermogenes Esperon, PNP Director-General Jesus Verzosa, and Usec. Bebot Villar, Pangasinenses are well represented in the Arroyo administration and are certainly among the few performing creditably for her administration.
But there is one critical unfinished business for the environment that I wish Sec. Quinto will address in the weeks ahead – to put the pressure on Pangasinan mayors to close their respective open dumpsites, these being a serious violation of Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act. With the exception of Urdaneta City Mayor Amadito Perez, all mayors are simply waiting for the law to be amended and allow them to keep their dumpsites.
Another pending business in the city is the closure of the Dagupan District Jail that continuously pollutes the Dagupan beach to this day.
We wish our former aktibista, Eli, the best!
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
