Punchline
Reaction
By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.
IN last week’s issue, we published letter reactions of BM Alfie Bince and the province’s chosen supplier of the Akkar shotguns in full, without accompanying reaction/comments from us to give them their due.
Now, my reaction.
To Mr. Bince’s –
1) “…If I defended the provincial shotgun program, I did so in the honest belief that project is legal and helpful in the maintenance of peace and order in our barangays;”
Now, he really disappoints us that he never thought that arming the ill-equipped police stations in the province would be more helpful in the maintenance of peace and order. He, more than any of the board members (being the most senior), certainly knows what P30 M can do for our undermanned and ill-equipped policemen.
2) “…I only singled out our friend Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City because of unimpeachable information alluding to him requiring his Punong Barangays in his City to return the shotguns or give back to the city government the patrol cars given to them. I said that if this threat is true, this may constitute “abuse of authority…”
Mayor Braganza is accountable to his constituents in his city, surely he understands what’s at stake for him. But instead of looking in the mayor’s direction, why didn’t he speak out to caution his fellow board members about “abuse of authority” for endorsing the purchase of the shotguns when the intent of the appropriation was specifically to provide financial assistance. Nothing in the resolution read “to arm the kapitans.”
3) “…If sometimes, I declare support to Gov. Espino, it is because his program of governance, particularly in the field of infrastructure, health and agriculture deserves appreciation. If it benefits his personality that is a matter of effect and consequence;”
No one begrudges him for supporting Guv Spines’ creditable initiatives. In fact, I join him in that respect. Where we differ is his almost servile attitude in defending the questionable transaction for the shotguns and their indiscriminate distribution to kapitans. It was hardly anything close to what Vintage Alfie, the indefatigable guardian for good governance, would have done.
4) “…If there are competent and admissible evidence to prove your allegation, I challenge and ask you to name NAMES. On my part, I hereby state in the strongest possible words available that I have nothing to do with the mechanics in the financial aspect of the purchase. My participation was limited to the approval of the appropriation for the purchase.”
Now, I know the Vintage Alfie is gone for good. The challenge he raised is precisely what Vintage Alfie would have fearlessly taken upon himself, and on his own exposed the anomalous details. In his attempt to take the moral high ground ostensibly to protect his honor today, he finds it convenient to ask me to do the impossible. It is he, not I, who has access to the documents. If he would be so kind to guarantee me full access to all documents, I will form the team that will expose the whole stinking deal, and give him the names of the accountable persons.
5) “…if such evidence of corruption is available and not hearsay, name those people involved and be assured that I will join you in denouncing and even to the extent of helping you prosecute them before the courts of justice.”
Please refer to my reaction in item 4. But Vintage Alfie would have asked initially if the prescribed procedures for purchasing were strictly observed, if the P30 M appropriation was spent or disbursed in full for the purpose it was intended to erase all doubts about corruption, but Mr. Bince didn’t.
Offhand, P. B. DIONISIO & CO., INC., the chosen supplier, already admitted that it was only paid P28.4 M, not P30 M; further that 1,400 shotguns, not 1,330 (corresponding to the number of kapitans) were bought. He can start snooping from there, and I assure him Vintage Alfie will find the trail of corruption that he speaks of.
So, I say to BM Bince, give Vintage Alfie back to us!
****
WILL GUV SPINES’ EXPLAIN? — I have nothing but praises for the management of P.B. Dionisio & Co. for being straightforward for its unsolicited response, detailing to us its transaction with the provincial government.
By its account, our people have been educated having been informed of the difference between facts of the transaction and Capitol’s claims.
It was paid P28.4 M (inclusive of price and licensing and processing fees). There appears a remaining balance of P1.6 M (from the P30 M) that Capitol has to account to the kapitans (who were entitled to the full P30 M). Also, there are only 1330 kapitans, so who were the lucky 70 individuals (who obviously were not kapitans) who got the rest to complete delivery of 1,400 pieces?? Pray tell, Guv Spines, who got them?
It would educate Pangasinenses further if the company can clarify what the license fees were for. Were the licenses for the individual kapitans‘s license to possess firearms and permits to carry outside their residences? Hmmm, I just wonder how that could have been possible when the kapitans were never made to apply for the licenses and permits which would have required them to go through a tedious process.
Perhaps we don’t need to bother the company with such details if Guv Spines can offer to help our education by showing media what the licenses were all about.
****
A DISAPPOINTING KABALEYAN. The performance of kabaleyan PNP chief Jesus Verzosa at the senate hearing last week looking into the Euro dollars l’affaire, was very disappointing. He was a picture of someone who refused to be transparent with an agenda to protect his comrades and a corrupt system.
His feeble replies to the very valid questions and concerns particularly of Senator Mar Roxas about systems and accountability in the PNP, and his own ‘quick-reaction’ to the scandalous episode in Russia made one wonder if he is fit for the PNP top post. The talk inside Camp Crame is he is DILG Sec. Ronnie Puno’s stooge.
I certainly hope he will vindicate himself, as a distinguished and honest Pangasinense, in the days ahead for the sake of the national police force he heads. But more than just being a Pangasinense, I feel for the ‘mistahs’ who feel aggrieved by the involvement of their fellow mistahs in a series of corruption scandals, the most recent of whom is Dep. Director Eliseo de la Paz.
Mr. Verzosa is being given the opportunity to help restore the integrity and dignity of the professional PMAyer. I pray he will.
(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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