In defense of Guv Spines

 By Ermin Garcia Jr.

Below are excerpts from a 5-paged single-spaced letter from an old acquaintance Paterno “Pat” Orduna, now an Executive Assistant IV at the Office of the Governor. My apologies to him that it had to be edited owing to our space limitations, leaving out his recollection of how we met and why he joined the governor, pruning it down to the very core of his thoughts about the shotgun issue. Again, to give him and Guv Spines their due, I will reserve my comment for next issue.- EFG 
 

 

“After assumption of office as Governor, records of the Pangasinan PNP evidently showed that there had been marked improvement in peace and order condition in the province. To cite a few, incidents of cattle rustling have been drastically reduced while the insurgency problem have been eradicated.

Lately, though, I was very disappointed by some malicious insinuations regarding the procurement and distribution of shotguns intended for the Barangay Officials of our province. I never thought that the Kuya Ermin Garcia, Jr. that I knew and admire may have been discriminating in writing articles which I believe tend to besmirch the character and the integrity of the man that I serve and have chosen as a leader.

…in close coordination with the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, then headed by PNP Provincial Director PS Supt. Isagani R. Nerez, this humble representation was part of the team that formulated the mechanism in the distribution of the shotguns to the different barangays complete with proper training given the recipients.

Although funding allocation for the FA had been  approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as early as June 2008, its procurement has been put on hold until serious studies and various consultations have been made. There are (sic) three primary considerations that were laid out as basis in the final procurement and distribution of the shotguns.

First… that the barangays really need the FA in peace and order campaign in their respective localities. The Pangasinan PNP due to its manpower limitations strongly recommended the procurement and distribution of shotguns to barangay officials because it will greatly enhance Police law enforcement capability with the Barangay Officials serving as its police Auxiliary Units. In effect, the Barangay Officials serve as force multipliers of the PNP.

Second… that majority if not all of the Barangay Officials who have been clamoring for the procurement of said FAs are willing to receive and take possession of the shotguns for their community defense program in support to (sic) the PNP’s mandate. And that they are willing to undergo training on the proper handling of FA.

Third, (that) the PNP shall have formulated the mechanism to ensure strict monitoring while establishing direct control and supervision of Barangay Officials who are recipients of the FAs. Please feel free to check with the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office…

After satisfying these conditions and ensuring that all mechanisms were in place and with unanimous decision of the Association of Barangay Captains, and as recommended by the Pangasinan PNP, the Provincial government of Pangasinan decided to procure the shotguns.

     Kuya Ermin, these unfounded allegations are unfair to the Governor, the members of the Provincial Board and the entire bureaucracy of the provincial Government and the recipient barangay officials. It is in this light that I wrote you this letter to express my personal sentiments regarding the issue.

TRUTH remains it was the clamor of the majority of the barangay officials for the Governor to help them in their peace and order campaigns.

The TRUTH remains that of 1333 barangays in the province, only twenty three (23) Barangay Capitans in Alaminos City did not avail of the shotguns. In fact, sixteen (16) Barangay Capitans from Alaminos City participated in the training and subsequently received the shotguns. Out of forty-four (44) municipalities and three (3) cities only Mayor Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City refused to take part.

TRUTH remains that threats have been made to recall vehicles issued to those who received the shotguns and who refused to return the same in Alaminos City.

Clearly, it is blatant imposition of arrogance to trample upon the will of Barangay officials in City of Alaminos who wanted to take part in the Governor’s program of promoting peace and order in the province.

Another blatant lie is that we are seemingly living under martial law in Pangasinan with the Governor allegedly imposing his will on the distribution of shotguns to Barangay officials.

The worst issue… raised is the alleged “corruption” involving (sic) in the procurement of the shotguns. It pains us to be accused of corruptions without factual basis. I assure you Kuya Ermin that all transactions made under the administration of Governor Espino are above board.

Feel free to make your inquiries with the supplier of the shotguns, P. B. Dionisio and Co. This is a refutable (sic) company doing business in the firearms industry for the past 60 years.

Kuya Ermin, your friend Pat Orduna is still and will continue fighting for the TRUTH. The same way ideals that I fought for all these years.

Though, I also believe that in seeking the TRUTH, facts should be the basis to strengthen these aspirations.”

****

ARM THE TANODS?? What police official and place would rather see the tanods (estimated 13,300) armed with shotguns than have undermanned police stations armed with more shotguns? Only Smiley PD Barba, and only in Pangasinan.

Smiley PD Barba’s wishful thinking – arming the barangay tanods – should be a cause for serious concern by all Pangasinenses.  As he obviously fawns over his idol Guv Spines, he has no qualms painting Pangasinan as a province far worse than Sultan Kudarat or where the MILF holds sway. The PNP leadership has consistently denied arming barangay kapitans or any civilian auxiliary force in Mindanao, and here we have Smiley PD advocating the worst policy yet for the maintenance of law and order in Pangasinan.

Curiously, neither Guv Spines nor the provincial board saw anything wrong with his public statement. He was not even reprimanded for that most irresponsible and mindless statement. No wonder, more and more kapitans see nothing wrong in using their issued-shotguns to intimidate their constituents. The latest incidents were witnessed in Manaoag and San Carlos City.

Nobody cares.

 

 

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
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