Great expectations

 

WHETHER or not the ultimatum from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to call the attention of the President – which the board members did carry out last week – was the pivotal element that sent the police leadership rushing to find someone to put in charge of the Pangasinan police force is now water under the bridge. What matters now is that Pangasinan has a police director, someone in command who will work with and report to the governor on pressing issues.

Senior Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco’s courtesy call to Gov. Amado Espino last Thursday, a day after his official posting as PD, was more meaningful than the usual niceties of such courtesy calls given the history of the strained relationship of his predecessor with the local government and the whole controversy over the appointment. The visit was important in establishing a fresh start between the provincial administration and the police. Now, they can get down to business.

The order of the governor to give priority to the campaign against illegal drugs and address the unsolved killings carried out by guns for hire or hitmen riding in tandem is a step in the right direction.

Blanco acknowledged that these crimes are the most serious problems plaguing Pangasinan and he is not coming in blind having been previously posted in the intelligence division of Region 1. It is also good that it seems Blanco has a standing relationship with officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the region. Together, the police and PDEA should be able to hack through the reportedly expanding network of illegal drug trading based in Pangasinan.

On unsolved killings, Blanco will have to map out a strategy and lead his team in busting unlicensed firearms, identifying private armies, tightening controls over motorcycle tandem riders, and increasing police visibility.

The new PD is facing a tall order. But with support from local officials, Blanco should be able to deliver on expectations.

 

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Rice smuggling

 

IN February 2013, rice smuggling was already confirmed by no less than five committees in the Senate. One of the Senate’s moves was to recommend the filing of charges against former National Food Administration and other government officials. Has it been done?

Already, billions—if not trillions—of pesos in government revenues have been lost to rice smugglers and it surprises no one anymore why our Customs officials have not collared even a single smuggling suspect. Even P-Noy appears helpless and can only whine in July at the obvious inaction of Customs factotums against the rice cartel crooks, “Saan ba sila kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha?”

Rosendo So, the former Abono party-list representative, has also said rice millers now buy rice from suspected smugglers “because they find it more profitable to buy rice (from smugglers) as they do not have to go through the milling and packaging process anymore. No wonder some rice millers have become mere rice traders, their milling houses converted to warehouses.”

Rice smuggling is alive and kicking and P-Noy doesn’t even know?

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