Who will stop the kidnappers?

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

The recent kidnapping of two young girls in broad daylight by a still unidentified kidnap-for-ransom gang does not speak well of the capabilities and leadership of both the provincial government, the provincial police, the local NBI. Or I should say the national government.

Sure, it can be said that kidnappings can occur any place and there’s no knowing where any of these KFR groups will strike but that’s precisely where the weakness of the government’s alibi lies. The government has no reason to be second guessing movements of KFR groups because our police, the NBI and the President’s office have access to incredibly vast intelligence funds that run into billions!

If those billions of pesos are not helping secure the welfare of taxpayers, one can only surmise that these funds that do not need to be accounted for, are merely being pocketed by heads of the agencies in all levels – national, regional, provincial and local.

The irony of it all is that intelligence funds are made possible by taxes paid by those people who pay income taxes, they who are the likely vulnerable targets for the KFR groups.

And as can be predicted, this failure of the government to adequately secure families in their communities will inevitably lead to more families feeling justified in arming themselves for protection. This will translate to more guns, more bodyguards, more bloodshed, more victims, etc. and diminished reliance on and respect for our government security agencies and judicial system for protection.

Soon, there will be anarchy in the streets all because the government and its men in uniform failed to crush the KFR groups.     

The KFR gangs must be stopped, but who will?

***

THOSE UGLY TALKS. What I found utterly distasteful and insensitive at the height of the kidnapping were the rumors and speculation that the kidnapping was staged not by a KFR group but by former employees who simply retaliated for the father’s alleged exploitative business practices.

Perhaps the father was the exploitative and unfair employer type, I don’t know that for a fact, but any parent whose children are kidnapped deserve everyone’s prayers and emotional support. Perhaps the only and best way I can put it is to imagine yourself being the parent of a kidnapped child. And believe you me, you cannot ever describe how you think you can survive the anguish of knowing that a family member’s life is at stake on your account. It’s perhaps even easier for parents to manage if told that their child was killed in an accident, because then it would simply be a case of moving from denial to accepting the truth.

Kidnapping is yet the most cruel and painful crime there is that can be committed against families. The emotional and psychological scars among members never disappear. And yet, for the kidnappers it’s simply all about money.

Those who spread the ugly talks about the children’s father were obviously not aware that kidnapping is no longer a simple case of abduction where families can simply be expected to pay ransoms. A kidnapper who knows his alphabet is aware that he, not the victim, can end up dead in the process. A bumbling angry employee with only vengeance in mind can easily end up dead.

The next time you hear of any kidnapping incident, thank your Creator that it was not your child, then quickly offer prayers for the victim and the parents!

***

LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE.  In the late 1990s, the KFR groups, particularly the Kuratong Baleleng, were hounded by a resolute team of professional law enforcers led by then Police Gen. Ping Lacson. Armed with their integrity, coupled with an effective intelligence network and an advanced communication system, the KFR groups disintegrated only to resurface after Lacson resigned as PNP chief with the takeover of government by Mrs. Gloria Arroyo.

The families of the Chinoy kidnap victims, the common and favorite target of KFR gangs, all swore to the integrity of  the Lacson’s PAOCTF team and were one in testifying  that all cash gifts offered to the team as token of appreciation were politely declined.

So how did Ping Lacson manage it? “Men in uniform generally want to be proud of what they do and do wish for their superiors to lead by example,” he muses.

 Indeed, leadership by example is what’s utterly missing today in our system and in government. So if you meet a corrupt cop, a government official or employee, you can say with some degree of certainty that his/her immediate superior is of the same kind.       

***

UNSOLICITED ADVICE. Here’s an unsolicited advice (some things to do) for Dagupan City’s Hermano Mayor for the 2007 fiesta, Councilor Joey Tamayo, who’s busy  assembling and  organizing a fiesta celebration for what he hopes will be long remembered.

With his indulgence, I suggest that you

1. Keep the city clean throughout the fiesta period for more than the parades, contests and dancing. Cleanliness makes for a lasting impression.

2. Make yourself accountable to the public for all funds received and spent as this will endear you to donors and taxpayers and can be expected to support all your future endeavors. At the same time, you will set a precedent on how public funds should be managed.

3. Promote a “smile-and-courtesy” campaign among volunteers and city employees.

Good luck!

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com . For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments