Punchline
Political will in the war vs. drugs
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
AS the Pangasinan Provincial Police Office, and the Dagupan City Police Station, proceed with the war vs. illegal drugs, it’d be noteworthy to know how other cities are managing their campaigns in their communities.
One of the more aggressive campaigns being waged in the country today is the campaign of the Taguig City Police Station in the city, a known “hotspot” for illegal drugs.
Check out its scorecard: It has arrested 114 drug traffickers in the first half of this year, among them were the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th “most wanted drug target personalities.
The Taguig Police reported the number of apprehensions for illegal drugs has increased by almost 70 percent as compared to the same period last year as of June 2015.
The secret? Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano gave the police the carte blanche to go after all the drug personalities in the city, including constant raids in Muslim communities where suspected drug havens thrive.
She told the police: I don’t care who they are, whether they are barangay or city officials, political supporters, big businessmen or celebrities. Arrest them where you can!
Taguig City Police chief, Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis promptly turned around to his men and simply said: You have your orders!”
That’s the kind of political will we speak of that can greatly give the campaign in the province the boost it needs.
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PROTECTED VIPS. In Pangasinan, and particularly in the cities of Dagupan and Urdaneta, one can appreciate the efforts being exerted by the LGUs and the police to achieve significant results. Alas, I can’t say that our police in the two cities have so far been armed with the kind of political will that the Taguig police presently enjoy.
I realize that Guv Spines, Mayors Belen and Bobom have not been wanting in pushing PPPO, the DCPS and UCPS to do more to stop the illegal drug trade here but obviously, the political will is still wanting. I say this because known notorious barangay officials that top lists of drug personalities still go about their business like nobody’s business.
That this happens only lead to speculations that some (VIPS) Very Important Political Supporters are still being given the mantle of official protection.
It is not likely that P/Sr. Supt. Rollie Saltat, P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano and P/Supt. Jeff Fanged will reveal that they have been given orders about some untouchable VIPS, if at all. But the fact remains that the No. 1-3 drug personalities in most drug-infected towns and cities, particularly in Dagupan and Urdaneta remain free without the least disruption in their activities.
Could that be the reason why we have not heard nor will we ever see the likes of a political will seen in Taguig City?
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PUBLIC SUSPICION. Unfortunately for Messrs. Saltat, Abrahano, Fanged and other police chiefs, under a situation where there is no clear political will from LGU execs, it is they who are suspected to be on the take when primary suspects continue to operate.
On the part of Guv Spines, Mayor Belen, Mayor Bobom and other mayors, for as long as the ranking drug personalities freely roam around the province, right under the very noses of their police chiefs, they, too, remain suspects as being in the drug lords payroll and control.
Sadly, until the political will is demonstrated without any equivocation, Pangasinan and the notorious barangays in Dagupan and Urdaneta will remain to be tagged as major transshipment points in the region. Certainly, not a good legacy for both the chief execs and their police chiefs.
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MEMBERS ARE HURTING. The shock that accompanied the family feud inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo still lingers with most. Without a doubt, the crack in the once solid wall of INC now appears like a fault line that can no longer be covered.
Indeed, who would have suspected that INC, like in any parochial organization, could be plagued by allegations of corruption, especially in an organization that has strict rules on morality. INC members are silently hurting, I am told.
I can only sympathize with the legions of believers of INC who are shocked and emotionally affected by the development. The very core of their faith has been attacked from within and INC’s detractors are obviously gloating over this development. Worse, some INC members trace the root of the corruption problem to the very core and strength of it’s fabled political influence – as a solid block voting group.
Unfortunately, too, for the chosen favored candidates in 2016, there will now be doubts whether the INC leadership’s choices also bought their meal tickets as well as being alleged today.
I sincerely pray that when the dust finally settles, the INC members will still find their faith in our Creator intact, strong as ever.
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The report of “One Dream” investment pyramiding scam that victimized Bolinao residents has been followed by a series of the same in other provinces.
It is nothing but a fool’s game that feeds on greed and sloth.
Any scheme that promises a return on a cash investment more of than 4% even over a 6-month period has to be suspect. The only possible way one can earn bigger than 4% is one is asked to invest in commercial papers of solid companies listed in the stock exchange but it is hardly ever higher than 5%.
No, I stand to be corrected. The only other way is to invest in shabu trading but with one caveat – you don’t only stand to lose everything when the police catches on, you stand to rot in jail if you are not killed by your own partners for being suspected of ratting on the syndicate.
Morale of the story: There is always a price to pay for insatiable greed.
Who would have thought that President Erap would go to jail because of jueteng? Or President Gloria could be detained on charges of misusing PCSO funds? Or Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Pineda in detention over fake NGOs?
In a sense, the Bolinao residents can still count their blessings. They just lost their capital and the earnings from it and they still have their freedom.
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KBP IN THE MIDDLE. Some KBP officials in the national level have asked me recently what I thought of the reported scandalous practice of a few local radio commentators who shamelessly engage in character assassination bordering on slander and libel not only for their principals but worse, against each other.
I told them I had weighed in on the issue weeks but to no avail. Now four commentators stand charged for libel by Guv Spines and one can only imagine the chilling effect of this unprecedented development.
So, I threw the question back to my KBP friends. I asked: What has the KBP Pangasinan chapter reportedly done to contain the situation guided by the organization’s ethical standards? And what do you intend to do about it?
I had friendly smiles in response. Understandably, because I don’t belong to the broadcaster sector.
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