Punchline
The kapitans on the spot
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE plan of new Chief PNP Ricardo Marquez to place a high priority in the campaign against illegal drugs is not only most laudable but very timely.
It is refreshing to note that Mr. Marquez has a good grasp of the drug problem because he ordered that the campaign must be zero in at barangay level. Bullseye! Mismo!
This effectively makes our barangay kapitans a fulltime partner in the campaign if he shares the mission and the advocacy. In the same vein, the corrupt kapitan will now be made fully accountable in the campaign.
That marching order should make it easier for Pangasinan Provincial Police Office’s, OIC-provincial director, P/Sr. Supt. Rolie Saltat to start including notorious kapitans as among the undesirable and wanted suspects as pushers and financiers in their watch list.
For too long, many kapitans have enjoyed official protection, courtesy of their partners in crime, the corrupt mayors. Now that Mr. Marquez has issued the order in no unmistakable terms, the province can and should expect Mr. Saltat to report more details to the Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Council, i.e., names of kapitans who lord it over their drug-affected barangays.
Good hunting Mr. Saltat! You are off to a good beginning, blaze that trail for a drug-free Pangasinan! You can very well start in Asingan town! Check out that barangay kapitan there!
* * * * *
HOTBEDS IN DAGUPAN. Ditto for P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano, Dagupan’s police chief.
In spite of his serious efforts to clean and clear the city of illegal drugs, Dagupan remains a hotbed for illegal drugs. He is obviously stymied by efforts of some notorious kapitans who cover-up for the pushers in their communities.
For the sake of the growing number of drug users among students, I hope the judges and the prosecutors in Dagupan will find reason to fully collaborate with the police in seeing to the arrest and prosecution of the notorious kapitans in the city.
Meanwhile, Kapitan Pedro Gonzales of Barangay Bonuan Binloc must be made to explain to all Pangasinenses why his barangay continues to be the most notorious source of illegal drugs in the province.
Then it is no secret that Barangays 2 & 3, Bonuan Gueset and Pantal are the other hotbeds in the city. Unless and until Kapitans Roberto Melecio, Rico Mejia and Julita Perez, (of the 3 barangays respectively), exert more efforts to purge their communities of pushers and users, they will have nobody to blame but themselves for the growing number of victims in their turfs.
Of course, this goes without saying that they cannot succeed without Mr. Abrahano’s anti-illegal drug operatives, fully supporting and coordinating their efforts with them.
* * * * *
UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR TECHIES. A good lesson about the use of social media for political purposes surfaced last week.
It was regrettable as it was instructive that teams of politicians in the business of “special ops” should learn from.
In brief, there was an attempt to besmirch the reputation of a media practitioner (a mother and wife) through social media by some pea-brained “special ops geniuses” through Facebook. Those behind it were obviously of the mindset that social media is the way to score points with the targeted audience. And actually, they are right, except for one thing: they failed to observe the basic rule for effective communication to be credible – to be truthful and to observe ethical boundaries. To make a long story short, it bombed out.
Unfortunately, there are a bunch of amateur techie operators out there who believe that technology alone can do the trick for their principals. Wrong. They do their principals more harm with their mindset.
So here’s an unsolicited advice to those who are so inclined to use social media whether it’s Facebook or Twitter or SMS for “special political ops”:
First: Never think that by simply attributing a repulsive, hurtful message to a credible practitioner is going to be believed. Far from it, especially if the supposed source (like our Tita Roces) is known to be incapable of doing anything close to what is being conveyed. What hideous messages simply achieves is, reinforce the notion that the persons who are supposed to gain by the negative messages are simply desperate.
Second: Never believe that disparaging anyone’s personal honor and integrity aimed at breaking harmony in a family will gain support. Again, see “First.” They must always be reminded of that old, everlasting golden rule: “Don’t do unto others what you don’t like to be done unto you”? Well, karma is always attached to anything done aimed at hurting a family. Watch out for it.
Thirdly: It’s a waste of time and energy shooting “messengers.” “Hated messengers” can be made to die a thousand deaths but they can never be buried (unless one literally shoots the messenger to silence him or her forever, but of course, that’s another story about the assailant and mastermind that will be told by other “messengers”). Messengers just keep on doing what they do best – delivering and reporting messages as they see them, even when they don’t see them.
Besides, the public has a way of dealing with perceived “irresponsible messengers” without lifting a finger – they are simply ignored.
* * * * *
NO KIDDING! Nothing could be more laughable if not entirely suspect than the news that Comelec has charged former Mayor Vivien Villar and her then Vice Mayor Dick Villar and the rest their team of councilors that run in 2010 for overspending in campaign funds!
How can persons possibly overspend in a no-contest election? That could only be possible if someone maliciously submitted an expense report that had no basis whatsoever. What could be credible charge is a complaint that the Villar team underspent and printing presses vented their ire on them because their business were affected by the very minimal expenses to promote their candidacies.
But to even believe for a minute that the unopposed Villars overspent borders on absurdity and complete incredulity. The Villars may be extra affluent but surely one thing they cannot be known for is to be stupid to spend P1 more than what is allowed by law to convince constituents to vote for them.
Those behind this ridiculous charge should be investigated by NBI and Comelec for abusing and misusing authority of Comelec for what appears to sheer harassment.
* * * * *
CONDOLENCE. One of our California-based correspondents, Ping Coquia, relayed a sad news. Francisca “Ching” Arzadon, the president of Greater Dagupan Association of Southern California, who could not be present for her induction, succumbed to aneurism last week. She was finally interred last Friday. Our sincere condolences to her family.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
