Back to square one, again

By Bebot Villar

 

I CAN’T see the purpose and logic of the order of PDEA Chief Art Cacdac.

Just barely eight months in his post, busy pang nanghuhuli ng drug personalities thru raids at buy-bust operations, at kasalukuyang in the middle of mapping out operations on how to eliminate the drug menace especially in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City, bigla na lang na-transfer sa ibang lugar si RD Jeoffrey Tacio, the Region 1 director ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

I feel for RD Tacio who was assigned to Region 1 only last Jan. 9, 2013 pero biglang na transfer siya to Region 3 last Sept. 16. Bakit ganun? Kung may reklamo man against him, why not investigate first? And if he is deemed effective, bakit hindi patapusin ang kanyang mission?

Under Tacio’s leadership, he and his team were recently feted by PDEA for having earned the “Distinguished Regional Director,” “Best Regional Office,” “Distinguished Supervisor for Administration,” “Distinguished Supervisor for Operations” and “Distinguished Rank and File for Operations” citations.

These awards are testaments to how he effective was, that he is an achiever, a doer. This is why nagbigay Dangerous Drugs Board ng Toyota Innova sa PDEA R1. I wanted them to become more effective sa kampanya nila. Lack of mobility ang isa sa nabanggit ni RD Tacio na problem niya when he was my guest sa aking “Deretsahan” USAT TV program kaya tumulong ako, para mas ma-inspire sila knowing they have the support of DDB.

Kaya dismayado ako na kung kailan naman maganda ang performance niya sa paglinis ng drug pushers sa Binloc and other areas sa Ilocos region, ay saka naman sya biglang tinransfer.

What kind of a policy is that? Hindi ba’t nakaka-demoralize yan sa mga professionals na gaya niya? Of course I realize na hindi sila permanente sa kanilang pwesto pero why the rush?

The sudden swap of positions between RD Tacio and RD Adrian Albariňo galling sa Region 3 can only mean “back to square one” ang Region 1 ulit. Albariňo will also need to familiarize himself first sa situation sa Region 1 bago makagalaw ng todo. Panibagong katakot-takot na meetings here and there, courtesy calls on elected officials bago maka-focus sa implementation ng mga programs ng PDEA. Dapat kasi action na.

Ito pa ang isang nakakagulat naman dito kay PDEA Chief Cacdac, na dating meek and humble.

Maraming feedback sa akin na ngayon daw ay wala siyang time even to take calls o sumgaot sa mga texts sa kanya ng mga government officials at ng isang congresswoman who is deeply concerned sa drug problem in her district. “Hindi na sya sumasagot sa text ko or tawag ko,” ang complain niya. Yumabang na kaya siya? Yan ang tanong na nakarating sa akin. Sagot ng isang top official, “Siguro nga kasi kakampi nya si PNoy!”

Ano kayang nangyari sa ‘yo, Gen. Art?

Mabuti na lang at puspusan ang efforts nila Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez and the city’s police chief, P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano sa all-out war nila against drugs.

Among the initial accomplishments in the city was the arrest of the shabu queen sa Binloc. Some identified protectors are already under surveillance while others ay “naligaw na ng landas” nang tuluyan at ewan kung saan napadpad, whether in heaven or hell. Yong iba nag-relocate na because they knew na serious na ang campaign diyan. Of course, marami pang gagawin bago natin masabing “Mission Accomplished” na.

Maganda na rin ang rapport na na-establish nila with the Muslim community sa Dagupan, kaya we are optimistic na this time na mapapatigil na ang drug dealing sa lugar na yan. Itong mga kapatid natin kasing Muslim ang kadalasang nahuhulihan ng illegal drugs kahit na ang mga leaders nila ay nangangako – many times na sa totoo lang- na tutulong sila para pagsabihan ang mga kapatid nila na maki-cooperate for a drug-free Pangasinan and Dagupan.

Sa totoo lang, there were those who opposed my decision na magbigay ng pondo for the construction ng drug rehabilitation center in Binloc pero hindi ko na pinansin because ito ay para sa probinsiya ko. P10-million na ang naunang naibigay ng DDB and another P5-million na isusunod pagkatapos ng liquidation ng P10-million.  I promised another P5-million for the 3^rd phase. The center is important because para sa akin, ang mga drug users must not be punished but must be rehabilitated and make them productive citizens.

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