Political will

IF there is anything that our city and town mayors are learning from President Duterte, but if they still haven’t, it is what sheer political will can do to effect real and meaningful changes in our communities.

Motherhood statements no longer serve and mean anything to our people who felt they’ve been shortchanged, hoodwinked and cheated of what’s due them over the past decades. This perception alone explains the totally unexpected landslide of votes that the man with kamay na bakal earned in last May elections.

Our people are hungry not only for genuine change but for accountability, and yes, now even retribution for the abuses committed against them.  It takes political will to make these happen.

With the expected adoption of the Freedom of Information Act, our local public servants – from the governor to mayors to the barangay officials – are now on notice. They will be held accountable for their actions and inactions. But again, it takes political will to make it happen.

In fact, only a strong political will can make the strict enforcement of all laws and ordinances possible.  It’s the only way for our people to finally learn to respect law and authority.

 

One and the same

WE asked for it, we got it.

Responding to public clamor, President Duterte did what previous Chief Executives—from the late Tita Cory to her son, P-Noy—couldn’t or simply refused to do: Name police generals (5) as protectors of drug lords.  Mr. Duterte had the three active officers relieved and ordered their investigation by the National Police Commission together with the two other retired generals, one of whom is now mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu.  The five had denied the charge.  Who wouldn’t?  Grievous is the crime being pinned on them—treasonous said Mr. Duterte—and, in fairness, the five are innocent until proven guilty.

But the news is a fresh whiff of air as it comes at a time even as many drug users and drug pushers are being killed left and right in what police routinely say as either the result of firefights or suspects being gunned down after trying to grab a policeman’s gun while in custody already.

“The Punisher” that he is known worldwide now, Mr. Duterte, just days into office when he dropped the bomb on the five generals, seems bent on his campaign promise to stamp out criminality, the illegal drug trade, and graft and corruption.    Small fish or big fish linked to drug syndicates, to him they are one and the same: They kill our youth, they destroy families.  God help him.

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